A community can be many things—a group of blood relatives, a group that lives in the same place, a group that has similar values, ideas and interests or a combination of all three.

Regardless, a community involves a level of shared interest and often commitment to one another, a bond that unites many and carries with it a sense of purpose.

Though I’m new to this community, I know that it can truly be called a community. Just a month has showed me that with the utmost clarity in a variety of ways.

For work, I have attended Vacation Bible Schools, community service projects like Service Over Self, Kiwanis meetings, Board of Supervisor meetings, retirement parties, business openings, beauty pageants and the list goes on.

At least one person at every single one of those events welcomed me to Vicksburg and told me they hope I enjoy it here as much as each of them does. Most of the time several people or everyone at an event did that.

Those warm welcomes reflect a level of community commitment because it’s unlikely someone would welcome a newcomer to a community that he doesn’t enjoy being a part of.

The types of events I regularly cover for work further prove Vicksburg’s level of community commitment. Those community service projects, Bible schools and board meetings back those words of commitment with action. The level of care taken at each board meeting with taxpayer money demonstrates a commitment that extends beyond words, as does the number of sheets collected to hang on the walls at Market Place 5 Vacation Bible School.

Personally, I have watched a local vet put extra time and care into trying to save a beloved pet and have had random strangers help jump off my car (I know very little about cars so they will never truly understand how thankful I am for that). I also had a local mechanic tighten a loose battery cable at no charge when he could have easily sold me a completely new battery.

How do those demonstrate community commitment?

Each one of those acts reflected positively on the Vicksburg community as a whole to someone unfamiliar with the terrain.

They were random acts of kindness, as the cliché goes. And they matter not just to me but the entire community.

Each act, whether done as an organizational endeavor or personal commitment, reflects Vicksburg, strengthening the bond between its citizens and therefore strengthening the community.

That’s not the case in every community, even in places where I have lived in the past.

Vicksburg’s level of commitment to furthering itself is refreshing on both a personal and professional level. Thanks for all the help, Vicksburg.