As we are nearing the end of the year, we look back over 2009 to the many people who have been a part of Outreach and say a huge thank you for being there for us and others. Perhaps you were among the persons who donated money for the many programs we have for those in need, and especially the gifts and food for our Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance.&bsp; We also have many who donate food and items on a regular basis during the year.

Perhaps you were a gleaner in the fields and orchards of western North Carolina who delivered bountiful amounts of vegetables and produce for our Food Pantry or maybe you owned the fields where these items were picked.

Maybe you were a volunteer lending a hand to the food pantry or front desk. You may have been part of a school, church or Scout group that collected and delivered staple goods for the Food Pantry or provided backpacks for students in need. You might have donated fire wood or helped split and stack wood for our clients. You could have been an adult or one of the many school students who contributed your time and talents helping us with our newsletters and information mailings. &bsp;

Outreach would like so very much to individually recognize everyone who has helped make year 2009 successful and beneficial for those needing our assistance.&bsp; Since that is impossible, we take this opportunity to thank you and to wish for you and yours a wonderful Christmas season and a Happy Year 2010. We are especially grateful for the local grocery stores, Bi-Lo and Food Lion, for offering their patrons boxes of food at reasonable prices which come to the Outreach Food Pantry.

We hope the community will be able to attend the Polk County High School Band and Percussion Ensemble performance to benefit Thermal Belt Outreach on Thursday evening, December 17, at 8 p.m. in the high school auditorium. &bsp;

Another event this week will be the High School Track Team sponsoring the Reindeer Games on Wednesday, December 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at the high school track.&bsp; Attendees need to either bring staple goods or pay at the gate as a benefit for Outreach.

As we look to the Christmas season, the Shepherds Feast will again be available for those that need somewhere to go for a good Christmas meal and also for those in need. This is an annual event that is growing each year on Christmas Day from 14 p.m. at the Polk Middle School cafeteria. We are most grateful to Mr. Ross Fox for providing this wonderful opportunity to bring the community together for food, toys and entertainment.

The Thermal Belt Outreach Office will be observing Christmas and New Year holidays by closing on December 24 and 25, December 31, 2009 and January 1, 2010. Regular office hours resume on Monday, January 4.

Eloise Thwing is the founder and Director of Thermal Belt Outreach, which is an independent non-profit organization located in Columbus, N.C. For more information, visit our website at http://tboutreach.org.~ Do You Know