Thumbs Up...

•Thumbs up this week to new Fire Chief Peter Hill and his crew of firefighters who took the time to cook barbecue for all the healthcare workers in Osceola on Tuesday. During this very uncertain, scary time, it was awesome to see our city employees taking care of others. Moments of appreciation are sometimes rare and far in between.

•Thumbs up to the local Sonic and their employees who also reached out last week during this very difficult time. Showing customer appreciation and genuine caring for others, Sonic distributed water, toilet paper, crayons and kids work sheets.

•Thumbs up to Big River Steel, the Mississippi County Baptist Association, and local members of the American Red Cross and Arkansas USAR Task Force-1 who reached out to assist the victims of the EF3 tornado which ripped through Jonesboro. Several other Mississippi Countians also donated money, food, supplies, furniture, clothes etc. to the victims. Whether you were on the scene moving debris or writing a check to feed families who had lost everything, you all deserve praise for your generosity and caring support.

•Thumbs up to all the local pastors who have come together, prayed together and are proving to be strong leaders in our community. Your congregation needs your prayers and your support now more than ever and you have proved worthy.

•Thumbs up to the administrators and teachers of the Osceola and Rivercrest School Districts and The Delta School. You are amazing. You have adapted very quickly to the situation to make sure “no child gets left behind.” You are using old and new methods of technology to reach each and every child. In an area with limited home computers and internet service, you have worked miracles in a matter of days.

•And, thumbs up to all of you. There are “no non-essential” members of this community. We are all in this together and we are all rising to the challenge. Just keep those daily acts of kindness going. We will get through this and, when it is over, we will be stronger than ever.