In the media, the stories that most often grab the headlines and seem to dominate the spotlight are those that tell us all about the negative things that are going on around us.

Robberies, murders, shootings, government budget shortfalls, indiscretion by officials, corporate greed, and a plethora of other "bad news" happenings make it appear that our society has little to cheer about.

But the truth is that we have many people throughout the world who are quietly working, oftentimes behind the scenes, to make a positive difference.

Here in Bladen County we are blessed with our share of these individuals and groups. In the last issue of the Journal, we spotlighted two of the many community service projects that are helping to make our area a better place to live.

One of the programs was initiated by one woman in a rural neighborhood, Felicia Williams, who is striving to make a contribution to the lives of the children in her community. She is operating her summer food program for children from her home and serving up to 30 children, four days a week.

Though she was reluctant to take credit for making the effort to get the program up and running, it was readily apparent that she had taken the initiative to make it happen.

In the other program, an Elizabethtown church congregation made a bold decision. They decided as a group that they would not stand by and allow children in their community-many of them in at-risk situations-to, as Reverend Alonzo Bragg so accurately stated, "stagnate or regress," when there was an alternative.

Their month-long program, called Mt. Zion AME Zion Community Summer Camp, focuses its efforts on three objectives: 1) to provide hands-on academic instruction, including individual tutorial assistance, in a number of core subjects to children who were in danger of getting left behind in their academic studies; 2) to provide instruction on spiritual issues; and 3) to provide opportunities to improve health and fitness as well as social skills.

Amazingly, the program attracted more than 250 children ranging in age from pre-school to 18. One look at the curriculum and the methods employed by the adults who give of their time to operate the program make it clear that this program will likely fulfill its vision.

Bragg succinctly stated the program's overall objective as "filling the gap" for at-risk children in the community.

No doubt, some of the children in the program do not come from what we term "at-risk" situations. But many of them do. And for these children, the program may very well mean the difference in them falling behind in school and ultimately dropping out, or progressing with their peers.

It may mean the difference in them getting nourishing meals during the day or going undernourished. It may mean the difference in them being at home alone or in a stimulating environment. It may mean they'll have the gumption one day to "just say no" when someone offers them drugs.

The bottom line is: it may mean the difference in them ultimately succeeding in life or falling into a life of crime.

And this program did not just happen. It took the willingness of a large group of volunteers to step up to the plate for our children.

This program and others like it could well be the long-term solution to many of the social problems that plague our society. And it is commendable that individuals among us care enough about these children's future to dedicate a portion of their summer to volunteer to make a difference.

Kudos to the many volunteers in our county who have made these and other community service programs, large and small, a reality. Though the headlines may not always indicate it, their efforts are making a difference.

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