Over the last year, our community has experienced the challenges of the economic recession, the long hot days of summer, a rise in people needing food and shelter, the death and illness of friends and the damage and destruction of Hurricane Irene.  At the same time, we have shared beautiful sunrises and sunsets, watched children experience snow for the first time, celebrated the birth of children or grandchildren, seen the return of purple martins, been helped by the kindness of strangers, and been grateful to live in a community where neighbors helps neighbors. 

Thanksgiving is a time when we remember all that we are grateful for. Several folks in our community have graciously shared what they are thankful for.

As a member of Interfaith Community Outreach who worked closely with the Disaster Recovery Call Center following Hurricane Irene, I am grateful for the incredible generosity of individuals and businesses inside and outside of Dare County to those needing assistance.  If you ever have the feeling that "no one cares," you only have to spend time working in this wonderful community to dispel that feeling.  We are truly fortunate to live in such a giving community.  For that, I am truly grateful.

Robert Palombo

Volunteer Coordinator for Interfaith Community Outreach Disaster Recovery

I am thankful for all the wonderful Girl Scout volunteers that make the Girl Scout program great. I am thankful for the Dare County maintenance department who worked countless hours putting the Girl Scout office back into shape after the Hurricane Irene flood.

Marsha Riibner-Cady, Membership Specialist

Girl Scout Council Colonial Coast

I am thankful for the many volunteers that donate their time to keeping the Beach Food Pantry running, the generosity of businesses and individuals in the community for their food and cash donations, and the opportunity to serve the community and meet the wonderful folks here on the Outer Banks that are part of the Beach Food Pantry and the other organizations with whom we are affiliated.

Lorna Ernst

President of Beach Food Pantry

This Thanksgiving I am grateful for good health, good friends and safety from the hurricane. My home could have been flooded, and I am thankful the water stopped just short of that.

Linda Putnam

Publisher of OB Seniors

In the past year (and more) there has not been more relentless illness, injury, destruction, deterioration and death around me, in my lifetime. And who do we have to rely on but ourselves, after God and prayer, to make things better? So it is the good people I stand beside every day, for whom I am most thankful. Ringing a red kettle bell at Christmas. Holding up a special athlete as she struggles to walk around the high school track. Bringing the Gospel to a child's level. Running hundreds of miles over many months in the bug- infested summer heat to raise funds for leukemia research and patient funding. Standing for hours on weekends handing out Tootsie Rolls to help those with intellectual disabilities. Organizing a fun run to aid the free market in Hatteras. Cooking dinners for the family of the bicyclist run down by a car. Writing letters to Congress to set our leaders straight. Serving on the honor guard on Veterans Day. Donating dental services to the poor. Saving sick animals from hoarding homes and nurturing them and finding them good homes. Selling raffle tickets to put local students through college. Standing by her husband when he has had a pretty bad day. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you Knights of Columbus, Salvation Army, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Hatteras Art & Crafts Guild, Team Kilmarlic Running Club, Dare County Special Olympics, Holy Redeemer Vacation Bible School, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training, Silver Riders bicycle club, Dr. Frank Ausband's mission to Honduras, American Cancer Society, Angels of Assisi no-kill animal shelter, my beloved wife Bobbie Beckley

Ed Beckley

I am so grateful of the volunteers and all the hard work, energy and time they have given to our community and the OBSE mission of helping support education in our schools and local citizens in need. Your help and support made The Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon Weekend a roaring success. Our organization continues to thrive because of dedicated volunteers.  OBSE needs devoted volunteers to continue to produce successful events that not only support our citizens, but our local economy as well. 

Lynda Wood

Outer Banks Sporting Events.

I'm grateful for the many people who give of themselves - their time, their talents, and their resources because they care enough about others to contribute in ways large and small to The lives of our children and grandchildren.  At this season of thanks let us all appreciate that caring and that effort.I'm thankful for the hundreds of hours spent by the "Common Good Lady" to help inform the community of events, activities, and opportunities available to serve those around us.

Larry Proctor

Commissioner

Albemarle District, Boy Scouts

I am thankful to BE ALIVE! 

xoxox

Susan 

I am grateful for these words of strength, those I typed and those I know lie in the hearts of my friends and neighbors.

As Editor of CommonGood, I hear firsthand from  many, many people who works so hard in doing good work.  I once read that we all weave the tapestry of our community.  "So many threads, Different colors and textures, So many patterns are sewn The fabric is rough, In places its tattered, Yet there's a strength all its own." *

Together we weave the tapestry of our community. Those who serve

 on boards and committees, those who sing and dance and  paint, those who visit and those who listen, weave the tapestry of our community.  Those who clean and fix, those who cook and eat, those who keep records, those who raise and count money, weave the tapestry of our community. Those who remind us about dogs and cats, dolphins and turtles, water and air, weave the 

tapestry of our community. Those who stuff envelopes and keep records,  those who teach and take care of our children and youth, weave the tapestry of our community. Those who bring food and clean-up afterwards, weave the tapestry of our community. Those who never meet a stranger and always say the right thing, weave the tapestry of our community. Those who hold our hands and those who have been there before us and encourage us to hold on, weave

the tapestry of our community. Those who give a lot and those who can only give a little, weave the tapestry of our community.  For those who in the middle of all this coming and going, feel that they are alone.. or those who stand on the 

edge of the cloth and wonder is there room for me. Yes there is. **

Blessings,

Nancy