The impersonal hand of government can never replace the helping hand of a neighbor.

&045; Hubert H. Humphrey

Good neighbors are hard to come by.

Like needles in a haystack, they are often very hard to find.

That is why I am asking for your help.

In a day and time when bad news is more prevalent that good, we would appreciate your help in finding a few unsung heroes that through their words and deeds make a difference in the lives of their fellow man.

This good neighbor could be a person down the street from you that takes time each spring and summer to mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor.

They could be a Sunday school teacher that is making our county a better place one precious child at a time.

They could be a person in your office that skips lunch once a week to deliver meals on wheels.

In short, a good neighbor is someone that invests a part of their life to make someone else&8217;s brighter.

An example of the type of good neighbor we are seeking is Cecilia Etheridge.

Many of you may not know Cecilia &045; even some of you that she helped save through her work at the Alabaster Red Cross.

Cecilia, along with countless other Red Cross volunteers, works to make certain that when we need blood it is available.

So what makes Cecilia such a good neighbor?

Simple.

Cecilia performs her volunteer work with a spirit of joy seldom encountered.

Those lucky enough to be greeted by Cecilia after making a donation will no doubt receive the warmest of &8220;thank you&8221; and the sincerest of smiles.

You see, Cecilia reminds us all how good it feels to give to others; she teaches us that lesson through her own life and how she lives it each day.

Just recently, on the day of her 93rd birthday, Cecilia and her friends at the Red Cross celebrated this very special occasion with, of course, a blood drive; she did not want fancy presents or flashy parties just simply the gift of life for others.

Makes you feel better just reading about a person like Cecilia doesn&8217;t it?

Let&8217;s celebrate our county&8217;s good neighbors together.

Please pass along your good neighbor suggestions to me at the email address to the left or you can mail or phone them in to our office.

Thanks in advance for your help