ONCE AGAIN GREATER ROME came through — particularly its children — by collecting some 63,833 cans of food in the annual can-a-thon sponsored by 11Alive News for the local Salvation Army effort that helps feed about 900 families in Floyd, Polk and Chattooga counties.

As school buses poured in to unload and be greeted by Georgia First Lady Sandra Deal, the local total again exceeded that of any of the three other collection points in the Atlanta metro area despite the huge difference in population and giving potential.

A year ago some 58,389 cans were collected, so this year’s total was up to help match the increased need. Three years ago Floyd County contributed a flabbergasting 180,000, a level that probably still holds true though collected more widely and almost year-round with no grand total available.

For example, Rome Action Ministries operates a big food bank to which some schools contribute; more churches and charities have expanded operations due to the times of economic hardship; the postal service runs mailbox collections; many grocery stores now have bins on site where customers can add to the food reserves (and even pet supplies).

This is the sort of “background noise” taken for granted in our community that really warrants not only more attention but also applause. It may appear normal around here, but it is really a bit exceptional, and the heavy involvement of young people means that it is a civic/social attitude that is being passed on.