Velma Holmes and her family recently did something that should serve as an example to all of us about making a difference in our communities.

We first learned of her incredible act of kindness in a letter to the editor that appeared in last week’s edition. After receiving a letter from her neighbors in Dogwood Knoll, she and her family submitted a letter of thanks. Then it was time to get the interview. She came by the office last Tuesday and it was, to say the least, a great pleasure to meet someone so genuine, compassionate and caring. Her story appears on today’s front page.

While we often hear about and read about stories of illness, how many of us actually take the time to help others? This is the heart of Velma’s story. She saw a need and she responded.

Despite her own ailments (fibromyalgia and back and neck problems), Velma spearheaded a fundraiser for her neighbor, Jimmy Dickerson, who recently was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

She became emotional when she talked about what guided her to turn her home into a restaurant for a day. “God put it in my heart to do this. He just came to me and said, ‘Do it.’ ”

To help Jimmy and his wife Connie, Velma hoped to raise about $500. When the last dinner was sold around 7 p.m. on Oct. 8, Velma’s husband Ryland told her they had brought in $2,500. Her eyes filled with tears when she recalled the support of her neighbors, as well as residents in other parts of Mechanicsville. She even received help from people in the Tappahannock area, which was her home until she married Ryland a few years ago.

It’s heart-warming to encounter someone like Velma — and reminds us how fortunate we are to have such kind neighbors.

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+ If you’re going out Trick or Treating on Monday, be careful. And do be mindful of the little “ghosts and goblins” making their way through neighborhoods. Happy Halloween!