Give where you live

Much of what makes a community worth calling home exists because someone decided to contribute. Keeping it that way asks something of all of us.

When we decide where our own time, energy, and money go, Burke and Caldwell counties deserve to come first more often.

At the Community Foundation of Burke County’s annual luncheon on Tuesday, the foundation reported distributing more than $1.8 million in grants benefiting 121 organizations this year. It also awarded scholarships to 74 students.

That means 74 students received help with their education because someone chose to give. For a student wondering how to pay for college, a scholarship removes financial obstacles that could stifle their career dreams. The local organizations earning grants support the community in myriad ways, from helping to end poverty, providing medical services to uninsured patients, and mentoring young men.

State and national causes have their place. But before we answer the next appeal from a distant institution, let’s look at the work being done down the road. The organizations directly serving our neighbors need people who will remember them and give when they can.

Some of that support pays for ordinary things: a staff member’s time, supplies, the electric bill. A dependable gift can help the people doing the work spend less time worrying about how to keep going.

And there is room for people whose gift is their time. Someone who can keep the books, offer a ride, or help organize an event has something valuable to share. Being the person others can count on matters. If you are already doing that work, thank you.

Getting involved in the community often begins with something personal. Aaron Kohrs offered an example during his recent author conversation at Morganton Public Library. He had experienced a bus trip that took more than an hour, compared with about 15 minutes by car. He offered feedback, made a connection with the transit agency, and eventually went to work there.

His involvement began with something he understood from his own life. Many of us have a concern like that, something we wish worked better for ourselves or someone we love. It can be a place to begin.

We want more millennials like Kohrs to feel they have a stake in the life of our communities. Their ideas and experience matter now. People who have served for years have much to share, and much to gain from welcoming someone new.

Election season gives us another chance to show up. Early voting continues through 3 p.m. Oct. 31, with Election Day on Nov. 3.

There is something hopeful about casting a ballot. We take time out of an ordinary day to learn about the candidates and think about the future we want for this place and the people who share it. Giving those choices our attention is one more way of showing that we care.

Need help understanding what’s on the ballot? Visit our online resource Election 2026 at thepaper.media to see which candidates are running for office, read how they stand on issues, and where you can cast your ballot during the early voting period.

We also know how full people’s lives are. Some are stretched thin caring for children or parents, working long hours, or trying to cover their own bills. An invitation to help should leave room for those realities. A small contribution, offered when someone can manage it, deserves appreciation.

Start with something you care about here. Ask who is working on it, what they need, and how your help would be used. If more of your giving has gone elsewhere, consider bringing some of it home. If you have yet to vote, make a plan.

Somewhere in Burke County, there is work we would miss if the people doing it stopped. They deserve more of us standing beside them.