Volunteering very much in the cards for local residents

Publishing a daily newspaper in a small town is a fun and challenging enterprise, and sometime's we're as surprised as anyone about what finally winds up on the front page.

We often compare the task to playing pitch. You lead with the best card you have; but sometimes it's an ace, sometimes a deuce.

Wednesday's front page led off with a sad story about children allegedly being locked in a dog kennel in North Platte, something we felt was newsworthy both because of its proximity as well as the living conditions to which the children were exposed. Unless we know that sort of thing is going on, how are were going to be able to prevent it in the future?

But most of the rest of the cards on the table were in the trump suit, in our opinion. That's because they showed our people at their best, giving of their time and treasure to help others.

A benefit comedian show will help send McCook High School band members on a trip to Minneapolis, something we know they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Victory Christian Academy plans a soup supper Saturday at Memorial Auditorium, giving diners a chance to support their education.

The 30th annual Coat Closet in a couple of weeks will help keep needy people warm this winter. Warm winter clothing will be collected Nov. 7-8 and distributed Nov. 9-11 at the old National Guard Armory in McCook.

Red Willow County employees are inviting the public to help them win a statewide contest to see which county can collect the most nonperishable food for local food pantries.

And, another local group is organizing a major event for the Feed My Starving Children group, which prepared, packaged and distributed 110 million meals in 2010.

In case you're not familiar with the latter effort, best-selling author Todd Burpo of Imperial has promoted the organization at appearances about his book, "Heaven is for Real," about his son's near-death experience.

The organization works in 67 countries around the world, supplying nourishment in the form of MannaPack meals of a special formula of rice, soy, vitamins, minerals and dehydrated vegetables.

Thousands of volunteers have been, and will be, involved in MobilePack events to assemble hundreds of thousands of meals just in Imperial, McCook and Southern Valley Schools.

And that was just one day's front page of the Gazette. Recent editions have included many other local charity efforts, such as the weekly Feeding His Flock meals at the United Methodist Church, annual "Christmas Child" gift box assembly and distribution, and many, many others.

It's reassuring to see when it comes to finding people willing to pitch in and help when they are needed, we have been dealt a winning hand.