When the organizations that help those in need are in dire need themselves, tough decisions must be made in our community. Kingston Food Bank, ShareNet and Fishline are once again struggling to meet the increasing, and necessary, demands of low-income residents for the holidays. While this news is always tough to hear, it is nothing new this time of year. November and December are simply months when those who have are asked to give.

North Kitsap excels at the latter.

A piece of news that took us off guard though was that the Bellringer Fund was all but tapped out as well. The long-running community program has helped thousands of residents here with one-time assistance throughout its 52-year stint. Hearing that Bellringer had to severely curtail its tradition of giving for the first time in many years truly came as a shock.

Fortunately, the fund-raising efforts to replenish Bellringer officially started today and will continue in earnest throughout 2004. The Raab Foundation, the Poulsbo Noon Lions and the North Kitsap Herald are once again teaming up to promote this worthy cause by keeping the public updated each issue with who’s giving what and why.

But this doesn’t mean we’ll be turning a blind eye to others that will assist area families and individuals in need. The Herald will continue to provide ink and editorial support across the board with the goal that no one in North Kitsap goes hungry this season and that everyone has the happiest holidays possible.