Recently Tomball has been portrayed as a playground for ignorance and repetitive backwardness. The outsiders looking in on these news clips most likely perceive our town how anyone else would. The bad news surrounding the city perpetuates the constant racial and economic strain that has already been deep rooted into this society.

As many Tomball residents know, the city isn’t as bad as the news portrays it to be. This past winter, many people and families were out of jobs (thanks to layoffs at Baker Hughes and other area oil companies) or low on the appropriate funds needed to give their children all the toys and games they dreamed of for the holidays. My neighborhood came together and donated a significant amount of money towards helping families with this problem. The participants were able to pull together hundreds of presents for multiple families in need of help.

The connection happened through an app called “Nextdoor.” Once the time came, the gift-givers met with the parents in need to make the exchange. The parents were so overwhelmed and grateful.

Here on campus, more than 20 area families enjoyed a bountiful holiday season thanks to donations and collections as part of the Holiday Hearts campaign.

In the end, stories like these go to show that Tomball isn’t as it has been portrayed in the media. While these good-news stories may not be the biggest out there, they are a good place to start.

Just like anywhere else in the world, Tomball has its ups and downs, but anyone that lives here knows that it indeed is a city on the rise.