When I read the letters to the editor, I often get discouraged. So much hate. So much “I’m right and you’re wrong,” no matter what the subject.

For those who prefer something more uplifting, read on.

On May 2, our house in Weld burned to the ground. A bit more than 48 hours later, we were told that 30 or so men – carpenters, electricians, plumbers – wanted to build us a house.

A week after the news about the house, the community gathered for a benefit dinner attended by more than 200 people. Stores donated turkeys, and volunteers cooked the turkeys, side dishes and desserts. Many of the same volunteers also spent hours setting up the hall and, then, during the supper, worked in the kitchen or circulated around the tables to make sure people got what they needed. As a final touch, more volunteers with umbrellas escorted poeple from cars to the hall.

Even in a small town, you don’t always know what’s going on, but that night a lot of people from Weld, neighboring towns, and some from farther away, connected with each other. The hall was full of goodwill and shared feelings.

Although we won’t always agree on a lot of things, that night showed the importance of a community, and the ongoing support from friends and anonymous donors shows the strength that emerges when neighbors need help.

The experience has shown that disagreements and hard feelings can be put aside when people are in trouble.

Lee and Sue Buck, Weld