Two weeks after Hurricane Ike hit the Texas coast and brought its winds and waters of disaster, many parts of our corner of Southeast Texas are returning to normal. Most of the traffic signals have been repaired. Entergy says it has reached 100 percent in its restoration efforts. Commerce is returning.

But it’s important not to forget those areas right here in the Golden Triangle that are far from healed. Sabine Pass, Bridge City, Taylor Landing, Hamshire, Fannett, LaBelle: The problems in those communities are severe and will take great effort and lots of dollars to put back together. Even then, possessions were lost that can never be restored; lives were disrupted that will never return to the way they were.

Those who were hurt by the storm need the help of the rest of us in this community. One effort being organized to help the hard-hit city of Bridge City has a goal of mobilizing an army of 10,000 people to spend at least five hours next Sunday, Oct. 5, helping the residents there clean up and fix up.

The project has been dubbed Mid-County Kindness modeled after the name of the Mid-County football rivalry game between Port Neches-Groves and Nederland known as Mid-County Madness. In fact, the work day will be on the day after the game, and the crowd of about 15,000 that attends Saturday night’s game will be urged to pitch in to help their neighbors on Sunday in Bridge City.

The idea for Mid-County Kindness originated at First Baptist Church-Groves and much of the organization is being carried out by members there, but they say this is not a religious-based effort, it is a recognition that our neighbors are in need and something needs to be done to help them. Everyone is encouraged to participate. Teams can sign up at www.fbcgroves.org, by calling 962-4461, or e-mail office@fbcgroves.org and leave your team name and a contact phone number.

Mid-County Kindness could be a model for other efforts to expand the process of helping those whom Ike afflicted. Sure, the government will play a role, and groups from outside the area will come in to do work. Make a Difference Day is just around the corner on Saturday, Oct. 25. That would be a great time for groups ranging from civic and social clubs to Boy Scout troops to set up and make a difference in the lives of those who were damaged by Ike and show that we here in Southeast Texas help take care of our own.