To the editor:

Wow, what a year 2017 has been. FISH has continued to grow all year long. We have been able to continue helping the less fortunate citizens of our community. All the credit belongs to you — our dedicated supporters. It is amazing how things work out — when our food pantry shelves get low our doorbell rings and one of our churches or other organizations are there with boxes of food. When we need warm blankets or other items, they seem to appear. I know there is a higher power guiding us. The weather has been in our favor so far this year and we have been able to help almost everyone that needs warm winter clothing and coats but I also know things are going to change and we will see cold temperatures. So please remember if you have some gently used items we could use, we know people that would appreciate them.

We have our “Candy Cane Shoppe” event on Saturday, Dec. 16, where Sidney students in grades K-5 that have been selected by their school come in and shop with our FISH money to purchase gift items for their family. This year these students have a chance to win a new bike that has been donated by a young lady, Ainsley Wiford. She won it from her school for perfect attendance and since she already had a new bike, she donated the bike she won to FISH so another child could enjoy a new bike. What a wonderful, caring. young lady Ainsley is and we are so proud of her generosity and maturity.

If you have some items that would help us with gifts, especially for dads and grandfathers we would appreciate them. On behalf of all the volunteers at FISH I want to wish everyone a Very Merry Christmas and may the Year 2018 bring all of us peace, good health and the ability to reach out to others that may need a helping hand.

Blessings,

Becky Gillman

FISH President