View From the Legislature

October is traditionally known as the month of thanks because of the Thanksgiving holiday falling within it. And while that itself is a reason to be thankful there are several other things that October commemorates that, especially this year, are deserving of mention.

The entire month of October is marked annually as Pastor Appreciation Month. It is a time to especially give thanks to the faith leaders that positively impact the lives of so many people both inside of their congregation and beyond. While this is true every year, the appreciation is more deserved than ever as faith leaders have been challenged incredibly during 2020. The pandemic has caused significant hardship to many of those who they provide care and counsel to. Churches, pastors, and the faith community as a whole have been stepping up to address the increased mental and financial challenges that have been experienced by many.

And while they have been working to meet these increased needs, they have been doing so in a different way as for part of the year virtual services were the primary way in which they were able to connect with their congregations. The challenge of increased need while trying to meet that need in new ways leaves us with a reason to offer special thanks during this Pastor Appreciation Month.

The first few days of October were also part of School Support Staff Recognition Week. This week recognizes the special contribution of bus drivers, educational assistants, clerical staff, custodians, food service workers, IT Support staff, library technicians and the many other support staff who keep our schools operating. And this year especially, they have increased responsibilities to ensure students remain safe. These can be especially challenging times for all those who work within our schools and we offer special thanks this year and during this month to the many support staff within our schools who are so critical to the success our students achieve.

October also marks Fire Prevention Week which is a time to provide education and safety tips to help prevent fires but also to thank the men and women who are on the front lines as full-time, part-time or volunteer firefighters in our communities. Many firefighters in smaller communities and municipalities volunteer their time to serve on the local firefighting team. They are supported by their employers and their families in ensuring that residences and businesses are protected. Indeed, all our front-line emergency personnel deserve to be thanked for the work they do serving community residents during these challenging times.

As October draws towards a close, the thanks that has been shown for these individuals and groups does not have to end. While it is good to have special weeks and months of recognition because it brings attention to individuals and groups that deserve our thanks, in these times we need to be grateful always for those who are doing extraordinary things during these far from ordinary times.