The ball only needs a little push around here. Rapid rolling will ensue.

Natchez is poised atop a giant hill, after all, but this time gravity has little to do with the matter; heart wins every time.

For every shuttered industry, inept politician and petty theft in our sometimes looked-down upon community, the nabobs of negativity know better than to come near our heart with a 10-foot pole.

I’ve known this for years, but became quickly reminded of it Tuesday as my back warned me to let the men do the heavy lifting.

We worked surrounded by canned goods on the stage at West Primary School, doing our best to piece together cardboard remnants we called boxes in order to get the cans from the stage to the Feed the Hungry truck.

Moving 2,675 canned goods of all shapes and sizes isn’t easy, especially without many boxes.

But the volunteers from Feed the Hungry certainly weren’t complaining, and we weren’t either.

In awe — that would be a better description of our feelings, I think.

Students, teachers and Partners in Education brought in or purchased the tall load of cans that West’s teachers had so cleverly formed into the shape of a shoulder-high train engine. Their work was an entry in We CAN do it! food drive that our newspaper is sponsoring.

But the shock and awe didn’t start or end at West for our staff this week.

Cathedral School teacher Jean Benoit delivered the first beautiful blow over the weekend when she e-mailed to schedule the pick-up of more than 6,000 cans her school has collected. Thanks to volunteers from CCA, we’ll be able to transport the giant load.

Today, we’ll head to Frazier Primary to pick-up another 1,500 cans that the school raised in only 15 days.

Can pick-ups from 17 other schools, churches, businesses and civic groups are also ongoing this week.

Right now, I have no idea how many cans have been collected by our community, but I know it’s more than 10,000.

And all we did was put the ball on top of the hill and give it a tap. It was just a catchy slogan in the beginning, but it’s more than obvious now that We CAN do it!

But this community project is only the newest in a series of heart-fought battles in the Miss-Lou.

Relay for Life comes to mind quickly when I think of jewels in our community’s crown.

The Children’s Christmas Tree Fund and endless projects led by Catholic Charities certainly top the charts.

But the day-to-day work in our public schools, on our ball fields and in our non-profits can’t be forgotten either.

This community comes together like no other.

The food drive has simply been another way to bind us together as one. People from all walks of life, different schools and competing businesses have donated to this fundraiser.

But it’s not over yet.

If you are a part of a can collection team and you haven’t talked to me to schedule a photo of your structure and can pick-up, please contact me today.

For everyone who may have missed the chance to donate a can, you can make a difference next week.

Monday through Friday anyone and everyone is invited to come to our office on Canal Street to cast a 50-cent vote for your favorite can structure (to be featured in Sunday’s newspaper). Vote as many times as you like, just bring your checkbook with you. All cash proceeds will go to the Natchez Stewpot.

Our heart is strong, but it’s strongest when, together, we beat as one.

Julie Cooper is the managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She can be reached at 601-445-3551 or julie.cooper@natchezdemocrat.com.