From the editor’s desk: Helpers abound

Published 3:37 pm Monday, September 6, 2021

Erick Peterson

Over and over again, the people of our area remind me they are amazing helpers. The kindness I have seen lately has been so great, I hardly know where to start.

Let me begin with the people I encountered while I was trying to find help for a friend. A friend came to my office looking for help obtaining a job. This sent me down a rabbit hole of helpers.

People at the Hermiston Public Library said they could assist my friend with a resume. The director of a local employment center said she could help my friend, too. A local employer even said he would be happy to receive my friend’s resume. And this was not the end.

Based on the willingness of the people with whom I have spoken, my friend soon will receive help. She will be back on her feet, employed and headed in the right direction. I feel optimistic for her.

There are many helping groups in our area. Look around at signs in parks, on buildings and beside trails. They include Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary; they are just a few. Other volunteer groups are devoted to serving schools, libraries and more. Churches are also involved in helping. And this is just the amateur helpers.

Think of all the people who help others as part of their profession. Professional helpers, including firefighters, mail deliverers, police officers and road workers. An entire army of people exist to help. Also, there is the literal Army. Our armed service people help, too.

In my work at the Herald, I encounter many people who are working to help others. Much of my job is bringing attention to them. I think it is important to let people know of their service. So when a parks and recreation director or a city attorney retires, I will do my best to let you know about it. Sometimes, they will be offering help that you can use. Perhaps, you will be inspired to also help. Or maybe you will take note of their service and compliment them for it.

If you encounter helpers who are not receiving the credit they are due, I hope you will reach out to me. Give the newspaper a call. I love to do stories about helpers. Frankly, stories about helpers are my favorite stories to do.

This is not to say that all goodness will be recognized. Most of the kindness I have seen around me is not exactly newsworthy. For instance, a friend recently helped me dispose of a couple of couches. He came to my home, helped me lift them into his truck, and we tossed them in the dump together. This friend even tried to pay the dump fee.

This amazing friend would ordinarily go unnoticed. He only gets a mention here in this newspaper because I wrote this entire column to thank him.

When he and his wife welcomed me and my wife to join the Lions Club, we saw another way we could help others. We look forward to being part of the club very soon.

As a reporter and editor, I will continue trying to tell the stories of the helpers around our area. As a Lion, I will be joining other local residents to be a helper (ROAR!). And as an individual, I will be trying to be a good neighbor.

If I can help you, please let me know.

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