Bone-chilling temperatures and a cold winter squall settled over Kansas this past weekend, but the cold never stood a chance against the warmth of our community. While wind chills dipped below -20 degrees and 7 inches of snow accumulated, citizens across Ottawa County showed why being nice and helping others never goes out of style.
On Sunday afternoon, numerous volunteers at both the Minneapolis Grade School and MJSHS stepped in without hesitation to clear sidewalks and entrances. These quiet acts of service did not go unnoticed. What usually takes a small crew multiple days to do was achieved in only a matter of hours.
It was not just on school grounds that the warmth of community kindness was felt. Anyone who has lived through a Kansas winter knows the sound of a dead battery on a frigid morning. This week was no exception. Yet time and again, a stranded classmate, a neighbor late for work, or even a stranger in a parking lot found help quickly. Jumper cables appeared, small talk was shared, and nobody was left alone in the cold. While driving across the community, one could see bundled figures helping one another out — whether charging a battery or pushing a car that was stuck — simple decency was on full display. 
A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who lent a hand. In these challenging times, volunteers, kind neighbors, and our community remind us of who we are and how everyone and everywhere should be. #MotivatedHonorableSafe