In the annual Progress special section last week, the Butler Eagle reported that county residents are eager to get involved in efforts that help the community and take part in fundraisers that assist their neighbors. This generosity was on full display this past weekend.

On Friday, hundreds of people gathered at Slippery Rock University for a Relay for Life event to raise money for cancer research and assistance. This year’s event drew more than 35 teams and 400 participants. According to the American Cancer Society, the event raised more than $27,000.

Then, on Saturday, the Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church held the annual “I Found the Gown” event, during which attendees purchased lightly-used prom dresses and wedding gowns. About 100 volunteers took part in the weekend event. When it launched a decade ago, the gown drive collected fewer than 100 gowns, but this year it included 57 dressing rooms and six seamstresses. The church ends up donating more than half of the dresses left over from the event.

And on Sunday, the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center held its first fundraiser in the drug and alcohol treatment center’s 49-year history — a spring fashion show at the Butler Country Club. Money raised during the event will go toward building serenity gardens where the treatment center’s clients can meet with visitors as well as playground equipment at Gaiser’s men’s and women’s inpatient centers in Butler.

All three events raised money and awareness for important initiatives. At SRU’s event, cancer survivors were able to tell their stories, and the event’s organizers said that such events provide “a place where people can just come together and find comfort with one another.”

The Cranberry “I Found the Gown” event provided a wide selection of prom and wedding gowns at affordable prices for young women who might ordinarily be constrained by a budget. Such an event ensures that they find a dress they like at a reasonable price.

And the Gaiser Center’s fundraiser helps with providing services for residents struggling with one of the county’s greatest scourges — the opioid epidemic and drug addiction.

We commend the organizers of the Relay for Life event, the Cranberry Community United Presbyterian Church and the Ellen O’Brien Gaiser Center for staging these events, where county residents took part in fun activities while raising money for local initiatives and drawing attention to important causes.

At the Gaiser Center’s event, fashion show committee member Donald Bullman said, “We wanted to shine the light on something positive that improves people’s lives. I’m so glad the community came together for this.” We agree with him — although his comment could apply to any of the three wonderful events from the past weekend.