A new website offers a good example of how Tacoma residents can connect and collaborate to make the city a better place to live. Folks on Facebook can learn about the efforts of "Friends helping Friends of Tacoma" and even join the cause. It is based on a similar group in Lewis County that helps residents there with everything from carpool buddies and new clothes for families in need to just words of encouragement. The local effort, for example, has a post by the East Side Neighborhood Council to offer tools for community cleanups and similar projects around the area.

In this era of dwindling city budgets, citizens may have to do more on the volunteer front. We welcome this initiative. Thank you, Tina Mcgee for stepping up and creating the social media effort to aid others.