Most of the time when writing this column, I try to highlight the events that the United Way is focusing on and update you with our progress.

At the end of this column today I will follow up with this information, but the focus today is Thanksgiving. What are we as citizens of Freeborn County thankful for? Is it our family life, our job security, our public schools? Do we worry about where our next meal, paycheck or just a visit from a special friend will come?

We take for granted that the water will always come out of the faucet, the furnace will keep us warm and there will be a meal on the table for all to share.

But, surprise! Not all the people in Freeborn County can count on these simple yet necessary items. The 19 agencies that the United Way of Freeborn County works with fills this need. They work diligently to make sure that everyone has a place to sleep, a meal on the table and a friend to talk to.

When you give to the United Way, you support the people who help our own.

The Rev. Jim Berning of St. Theodore Catholic Church said in his sermon on Sunday, “Do we give what we have, or do we only give from our surplus?”

This Thanksgiving season, take the time to reflect on what you have, what you need and how you can affect the lives of those in Freeborn County who are less fortunate.

This past Friday was our annual Fountain Warehouse Liquor Wine Tasting at Wedgwood Cove Golf Club. It was a tremendous success with more than 300 people coming out. We saw a lot of familiar faces and met some new friends.

Special thanks to Ron Freeman at Fountain Warehouse Liquor and to Wedgwood Cove for hosting the fundraiser.

Corrine and the office support crew at the United Way have been working extremely hard following up with the pledges coming through the mail and the many businesses turning in their packets. As of this writing, we are just over $200,000 or about a third of our goal of $645,000.

Please travel safe and remember those who need our help as you visit and spend time with family and friends this Thanksgiving.

Steve Merfeld is the campaign chairman for the United Way of Freeborn County. He is the business manager at Bonnerup Funeral & Cremation Services.