In this beautiful valley, mansions, ski trails and fine living obscure hardship.
But it's here, and it's getting worse.
It showed up last week in a single line in this newspaper. The Sawtooth Board of Realtors' Community Holiday Baskets Program is short of money in the face of overwhelming demand, "leaving 324 children not adopted" for gifts of winter clothing and other items.
That's 38 percent of the 860 kids on the board's list this year. Unless donations materialize quickly, these children's needs will go unfilled in the face of this winter's already frigid temperatures.
The good people of Blaine County shouldn't allow this to happen.
Yes, the local unemployment rate exceeds 10 percent, so 1 out of 10 workers—and likely many more—are out of a job. But that means that 90 percent of workers are bringing home paychecks.
Yes, many people are working less or at rates of pay that are much lower than they used to be.
Times are tough.
Even so, the valley's children shouldn't be the ones penalized by the economy, especially when others have enough to share.
It costs just $30 to sponsor a child, or $9,720 to sponsor all of the needy. Even smaller donations add up and can help.
Sharing will have to come quickly to give needy kids some joy this season.
Basket and "adoption" packages are being prepared as this is written. People and businesses that can find it in their hearts to help out a local child should send checks to SBR Holiday Baskets, Box 1937, Ketchum, ID 83340.
Don't delay. Please donate today.
