Years ago the Nike corporation sold closets full of shoes with the ingeniously simple marketing slogan: Just do it!

Natchez citizens took the phrase to heart three years ago, but it didn&8217;t have a darned thing to do with shoes.

Just do it! &8212; the three-word mantra is an edgy, hip way of getting to the heart of any issue. It cuts through the excuses and all of the reasons why something cannot be done.

Don&8217;t feel like exercising because of the pain? Stop crying and just do it! And, oh yes, buy some Nike shoes, first. Just do that, too.

The phrase was quickly applied by pop culture to lots of things.

Essentially, the phrase said, &8220;If something needs to be done, get up off your rear end and move!&8221;

Just do it! is a powerful phrase.

A group of local citizens saw a need in the community, or more specifically at the Robert Lewis Middle School, and they got up off their rears and just did something.

That&8217;s how the school&8217;s mentoring team began. Three years later, the mentoring team has done some good things for the students of that school. Showing young people that someone loves them, cares about their well being and wants them to succeed can be a powerful force in helping to shape their future.

But the schools need more help from folks just like you. Helping our school children isn&8217;t difficult.

In fact, all it takes is one simple act: Just do it!