White Rain shampoo. That’ll do the trick?

Out of everything I learned Saturday during the inaugural True Color Run, benefitting the United Way of West Central Mississippi, the fact that White Rain shampoo seemed to be the best option for getting the colored powder out of your hair and clothes was the most important.

Did I learn that Vicksburg could turn out by the hundreds and thousands to support a worthwhile event? Nope. Seen that before.

Did I learn that when a group of dedicated individuals come together for a common cause, a common goal that great things can happen? Nope. Seen that before too in Vicksburg.

As I stood atop the hill near the Vicksburg Farmers Market park, just off Washington Street, looking over the hundreds of people gathered for the 5K and 1-mile fun run, I was again reminded something about Vicksburg that is amazingly special.

When given a challenge, when called on to help and when there is a need, Vicksburg shows up in a very big way. In just my short tenure of being a resident of Vicksburg and Warren County, I have been reminded time and time again just how giving this community is.

There have been the chili cook-offs, the gumbo events, Dancing with the Stars, Relay for Life and the list goes on and on. In each case, the turnout has been far more than expected, the support far greater than hoped and the impact made on those organizations, those charities will extend much farther than the initial dollars invested.

I will be quick to say that I was not among the more than 700 runners who took part in either the 5K or the 1-mile fun run. My support for the United Way, and this event in particular came in a far different way. By not running, there was not the need for emergency medical care, ambulance service or the need for me to be airlifted to the nearest oxygen station.

I was far more useful in tossing out goodies to the crowd, tossing out color and offering whatever support I could as not only a member of the United Way’s Board of Directors, but as a member of the Vicksburg community.

The turnout for Saturday’s event was amazing. Downtown was completely packed with runners, supporters, vendors, United Way partner agencies on display and folks just like me offering a hand when and where needed.

Vicksburg’s annual events calendar is already amazingly busy with great events — runs, bike rides, charitable dinners and the like — but after the success of Saturday’s inaugural True Color Run, the calendar will need to make a little room for another great, annual event.