Friends and residents of Middleburg can be thankful for many things, not least among them... the friends and residents of Middleburg. We're a town of 600... with what often seems to be ten times that number of volunteers.

Because of them, the town works, and is a pleasure for all those who live, work and visit here.

Last year, for the very first time, Manuel Simpson led a local initiative to ring the Salvation Army Bell at the Middleburg Safeway. The word went out that he needed volunteers to help keep the bell ringing all day.

Volunteers from every corner and walk of life came to help. The final donation total was amazing, allowing many children and families to enjoy a generous holiday spirit, but the volunteers enjoyed that spirit too. Mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, bankers and bakers, dogs and their masters... all stood ringing to remind us that giving is the best part of Christmas.

Our schools and libraries, food for the poor, affordable housing, historic preservation, transport to doctor's offices, scouts, veterans, Christmas in Middleburg, concerts, plays, economic development, guide services and even Town Council (whose monthly pay approximates the cost of a drive to DC and back) would simply not work without... volunteers.

If you want to meet Middleburg, and the people who love it... stop by Crème de la Crème and volunteer to ring the bell.

It's a good thing to do. It's a better thing to be.