2010 has been a hard year financially for our country; however, Columbiana continues to be a giving town in so many ways.

Columbiana is blessed with many clubs that are very generous to our community.

The David Lindsay Chapter of the NSDAR generously supports our military.

For our veterans, Ziploc bags of personal hygiene items, books, socks, and crossword puzzles are made and given to the veteran’s hospital or home each year.

For our active servicemen in Afghanistan, the DAR sends books, phone cards and goodies as well as stuffed animals to their children at home.

And for those who have given their lives for our freedom, wreaths Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo each Christmas.

The Vignette Club has supported the Safe House at Christmas for years. The members give gift cards to Wal-Mart, Christmas wrapping paper, bows, and tape. This helps the mothers give a Christmas to their children.

The Culture Club has been especially generous this holiday season. They provided more than 167 pounds of food to the Shelby Baptist Food Bank and also gave personal items to the Safe House. The club supported the Children’s Hospital with gifts for the children and a donation to the dialysis unit.

They also are supporting the Art Department at Elvin Hill with much needed funds due to prorated cutbacks this year.

As you drive by the Jeanette Niven House and notice the beautiful decorations, know that the Culture ladies decorate the service house every year.

The Novella Club also supports the Safe House at Christmas and provides blankets to all the new residents at the Shelby Rehabilitation Facility. They also have given food to the Food Bank and support the veterans.

Columbiana United Methodist Church continues its annual Skillet Bird Toy Fund giving toys and clothing to local children in need. This year CUMC also supported Operation Christmas Child, sponsored by the Samaritan Purse, by providing 35 shoe boxes filled with goodies for children overseas.

Leslie Whiting has been the chaplain of the inmates at the Shelby County Jail has for many years. “Several of Columbiana’s churches help assist with the jail ministry which serves the inmates as a group one on one and to provide Bibles,” said Teresa Whiting, wife of the C\chaplain.

Chaplain Whiting provides communion and baptisms, and provides snacks at Christmas.

No matter how the economy fares, Columbiana helps take care of its own.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e-mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.