I’m going to forget someone, so let me get that out of the way right at the beginning.

I hope it won’t be like actress Hilary Swank, who forgot to mention her then-husband Chad Lowe in her 2000 acceptance speech for best actress in “Boy’s Don’t Cry.” The camera kept focusing on his face but the mention never came.

But I’ll try not to leave anyone out.

Emergency management.

Police departments.

Sheriff’s departments.

Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Emergency Medical Technicians, paramedics, nurses, physicians and everyone else who falls under the medical umbrella I’m using here.

Electrical linemen.

Tree limb cutters and debris removers.

Caring neighbors, friends and family members.

Strangers who offered rides, pulled vehicles from ditches, delivered food and firewood, checked on people they did not know or helped someone cross an ice-slicked sidewalk.

Those who called and checked on people, prayed for them and sent messages of encouragement.

Each and every single one of you deserves thanks and recognition.

Most of you don’t want it.

That’s how it should be. We should do our best to help one another, especially when it’s needed most, and do it in a way where we’re not the center of it.

You help because you love Jesus. You help because you love others. You help because you can. You don’t really think about it — you just help.

Maybe it’s your J-O-B to do it, but you’re in that job because you want to help others.

I don’t care if you did it for free or for a six-figure paycheck or anything in between. I’m just glad you did it.

Thank you so very much!

My family and I were blessed.

My wife, daughter and I (and let’s not forget the dog) were warm, had power and water and everything we needed during the winter storm last week and its aftermath. Our power loss lasted less than a second. It was just a blip, and I was the only one who noticed.

The only difficulty we had was the ice covering our steps, deck, driveway and road. A friend picked us up in his four-wheel-drive pickup when it was safe to do so, and ferried us each to work and back home later that afternoon.

Like many others who helped, he does this type of thing quite often and gets great joy from helping others. I won’t mention his name because I think he wouldn’t want me to, but I thanked him a few times in person and I say thank you here again. He knows who he is.

Some of you are still facing difficulty today — with power outages, boil water notices, damaged property, etc.

Never at any point believe that you are alone. If you need help, reach out to those you know and don’t be afraid to let them know you need assistance.

Most people will help if they can.

And for all of you who are helping and will never receive public thanks for it in any other way, consider this a personal thank you to YOU.

You are appreciated.

I’ll say it again — THANK YOU.

News editor Brett Campbell can be reached at 601-265-5307 or brett.campbell@dailyleader.com.