The holiday season can bring out the best in people. Something about eating turkey on Thanksgiving and being around family on Christmas seems to make us realize what’s important in life and how necessary it is for those of us who are able to help others.

Halloween isn’t normally included with those holidays that inspire generosity—other than people gladly filling kids’ buckets full of candy—but The Clanton Advertiser recently has featured several stories about ways local residents can help others.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and people all across the county thought of creative ways to benefit the cause, whether it was Visions Hair Studio donating part of the cost of a pink highlight or Verbena’s cheerleaders sponsoring a pink pep rally.

Local resident Stephanie Gibson is again organizing an effort to send stockings filled with goodies to soldiers stationed overseas.

The first two Stockings for Soldiers drives provided useful items to troops in Iraq and Kuwait; this year, stockings will be sent to Afghanistan.

Another local drive is that held by the Chilton County Emergency Assistance Center, which needs food to be provided to needy people in the community.

About 7.5 tons of food and $3,200 in monetary donations were collected last year, and those resources went to serve 1,552 families.

Finally, Habitat for Humanity of Chilton and Autauga counties has begun its annual ham and turkey fundraiser.

The organization uses proceeds from the sale to help local families. There are already six such families living in homes built by Habitat.

There will always be people that need help. Thanks to the efforts mentioned above, among others, there are plenty of ways for local residents to provide that help.

–Dawkins is the assistant managing editor for The Clanton Advertiser.