Dear Community,

Yesterday many responded locally by providing canned and dried goods for those in need of food. When a child and mother would otherwise go hungry your donations will be provided to them by one of three food provision lead agencies — Salvation Army Rowan County, Main Street Mission and Rowan Helping Ministries.

I want to thank, as well, two special leaders who have worked diligently and humbly for many years —Dennis Sims (volunteer chair) and Jackie Harris (staff) for Rowan County United Way. In tandem, with Kim Lane and the U.S. Postal Letter Carriers, your food contributions are taken at your mailbox, brought to the main Post Office to be sorted, weighed and equally distributed by scores of volunteers who load on trailers thousands of pounds of food to be used throughout the county.

Today is a special day as we honor the one person who throws her arms around us when we need a hug, wipes the tears away when we fall, provides a meal for us when we hunger. She is encouraging with a smile and expects great things for us because she cares. She is Mother.

This is the first Mother’s Day that I am without my mother. I miss her; however, the lessons she taught me go unforgotten. I saw those lessons yesterday because so many volunteers wrapped their arms around our community and wiped the tears away of a mother who did not know if she could provide food for her children. You provided a smile while sharing from your own kitchen table so a child and possibly another mother would have food for another week.

Happy Mother’s Day, Moms! We love you.

— Bob Lippard

Salisbury

The writer is director of the Rowan County Untied Way.