Congratulations, Demopolis community. When you pull together, you get things accomplished, no matter how small of a scale it may be.

You took time out of your day to go to a Web site and vote for Jeremy Wallace of Demopolis High School as the Army Iron Man of the Year for the state of Alabama. You showed your passion.

Okay, fine, so that may not have been that big of a deal to you. But it was to Jeremy Wallace. For a kid who has shown so much growth and perseverance over the last two years and has visibly laid himself on the line in every game this season, having his community show up to support him cannot be overstated. Your support helps validates his efforts.

You reached into your pockets and pulled out something to give to the family of LeFlore middle linebacker Timothy Robinson.

You learned of his subdural hematoma on Thursday afternoon and managed to pull together more than $3,000 in just over a day to give to his parents Friday night. You showed your class and your compassion.

It did not matter that the young man played for a different team or that you’d never even so much as heard his name before Thursday.

You did what your heart told you was right and gave of your means to help a family that genuinely needs it.

You donated your time and efforts to help make Christmas on the River possible. And for that, you will be richly rewarded as this year’s festivities promise to be stellar.

It never ceases to impress just what can be accomplished when a group of people set their minds to the betterment of a cause.

Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

While we have yet to solve the pesky problems of war and hunger and disease, the community of Demopolis did a few things here and there over recent weeks to help change the world immediately around us for the better.

Jeremy D. Smith is the sports editor of the Demopolis Times