By Tammy Whitaker,
Editor Lost Creek Sentinel
Happy November—or, as we like to call it here at the Lost Creek Sentinel, “Giving Back” month!
I’m about to do something I rarely do: I’m going to scold you, our readers. You may think I’m out of line, but hear me out.
In October, we announced that we would once again honor our tradition of giving back to the communities we serve by offering local nonprofits the opportunity to share their stories in the Sentinel—at no charge. We invited organizations to tell our readers about the work they do, the people they serve, and the ways our communities can support them.
I was excited to fill these pages with stories of the generosity, compassion and hard work happening throughout our region.
Instead, I received two articles.
I’m grateful to the organizations that took the time to share their stories, and I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read about their work in this edition. But I have to admit, I’m disappointed that we didn’t hear from more of you. This month’s Giving Back section is slimmer than I had hoped.
I’m having a hard time understanding why a nonprofit would pass up an opportunity for free publicity. Our paper reaches thousands of homes and businesses, and sharing your story could introduce your organization to someone looking for help, a volunteer searching for a way to serve, or a neighbor who didn’t know your organization existed.
I know nonprofit leaders and volunteers wear many hats. You’re busy raising funds, organizing events and helping others, often with limited time and resources. Perhaps our invitation was missed, or perhaps writing an article felt like one more thing on an already overflowing list.
If that was the case, please reach out. To keep up that spirit of giving in this the most precious of giving seasons, we’re going to try again in December. We would love to help you tell your story. Your work matters, and our communities deserve to know about it.
After all, giving back works best when we show up for one another.
All articles should be sent to editor@lostcreeksentinel.com by no later than end-of-business on November 22nd.
From all of us at the Lost Creek Sentinel, we wish you and your loved ones a Thanksgiving filled with gratitude, kindness and a little hometown heart.
