Preschooler Piper Shockey, 6, of Butler Township says a prayer following the Butler Montessori School's Christmas program at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Butler Monday, December 21, 200.

“Christmas is hope,” says Jane Anzaldi of Mars, as a year riddled with tribulations nears its end.

A pandemic. The dawn of widespread working from home. A record-breaking and controversial presidential election. Economic and civil upheaval. Serial weather phenomena. The stresses piled up.

But at least one thing to be grateful for — that endures — is hope.

“Faith is everything,” said Mary Sue Rozum, Anzaldi's friend from Wexford. “I really feel that there's just love all around.”

The Rev. John Pistorius, pastor of Christ's Family Church in Chicora, is a coordinator for the Petroleum Valley Food Cupboard.

Working closely with the public in a time as unique as 2020 has allowed him to see things from a new perspective.

“There's a lot of context for hope,” Pistorius said. “I have hope because I see people giving.”

That giving isn't just done in the Christmas spirit, according to Pistorius. It's been palpable year-round, particularly through food cupboard volunteers.

“They spend their time (here) because they want to help others,” he said. “Especially during this time of trouble.”

In addition to individuals, businesses have faced the brunt of the challenges imposed by the pandemic.

But Jordan Grady, executive director of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, said businesses are exactly why communities should have hope for the future.

“There's hope in 2021 that consumer confidence is going to increase,” Grady said. “We continue to eradicate this virus that's wreaked economic havoc on Butler County.”

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appears in Thursday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.