For more than six and a half decades the Ironton City Welfare Mission has lived by the creed of being the “door of hope to the unfortunate.”

That is a motto that has served the charitable organization well and allowed it to impact the lives of thousands of Tri-State residents.

The mission and the City Mission Church that oversees it recently celebrated their 66th anniversary. In a time when many businesses are struggling to keep their doors open and many churches and organizations have seen their memberships dwindle, it is inspiring that this agency has continued to thrive.

That is surely attributed to the good that it creates.

The mission provides food, shelter and clothing to those in need. It provides Christmas and Thanksgiving for hundreds of families that wouldn’t have those holidays otherwise.

The amount of turkey and mashed potatoes used every year is impressive unto itself.

The leadership of the mission has always been strong, with Pastor Jeff Cremeans continuing that tradition.

But, perhaps, the most important factor in the mission’s success can be attributed to one thing: community support.

The entire community has embraced the mission and the job that it does. Without this, the agency would be limited in the goodwill it could spread.

If the mission serves as a door of hope, then it is the citizens and businesses of Lawrence County who keep it open.