Spirit of Thanks"giving"

Matt Unrau

This past week was Thanksgiving and I had the opportunity to research two different stories that on the surface seem jarringly different, but in truth work together in a way that has to makes you smile.

In the first story I hoped to get a little perspective on the housing industry in the area. Several years ago, long before I arrived here, the housing industry was booming in Sanders County with real estate getting bought and sold at an unprecedented pace.

However, the national housing market collapse two years ago affected the county in a heavy way, which affected the overall economy of the area in a big way since retirees moving into the area, buying land and building houses is such a major part of the economy.

Well, now the economic picture everywhere is still dicey and many people are struggling and Sanders County has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.

The second story happened on Thanksgiving as I traveled to Alliance Church in Plains and saw many people generously giving their time and effort to help out many of the same people that are being hit the hardest by the economy.

Not only did the people and the church donate money to give people a meal, but local businesses also donated money so others could get some food in their stomachs.

These days it’s extremely popular to talk doom and gloom about the economy, and don’t get me wrong, many people are having a rough time. However, it’s refreshing for me to see people not just seeing the economy as a curse, but as an opportunity to help others.

It’s not just in Plains and not just in this church that generosity was on display, but I’m sure there are countless other examples of generosity on display this past week in both Sanders and Mineral County.

Now, as the economy still continues to plod slowly upward many of these people’s situations may not change much over the next few months, but you have to smile at the fact that at least for a few hours on one day these people in need of help could sit down for one delicious feast with friends and strangers alike and forget their troubles.at least for one day.