Kyanite Mining Corp. does and has done more for the Buckingham community than we’ll ever know.

The biggest thing the family-run operation has done is provided much-needed, good-paying jobs for our friends, neighbors and family. Jobs, to me, are the biggest need of this region — period. And, for many years now, Kyanite has helped fulfill this need.

Kyanite, and its many employees, have given to the community through volunteerism, charity and donations for people, events and organizations.

Some of Kyanite’s employees are the most active civic members of the Buckingham community, volunteering hours after hours to better the lives of people, including participating in the chamber of commerce, Habitat for Humanity and organizing benefit softball tournaments.

This is the tip of the iceberg for what the company and its employees have done for Buckingham.

Kyanite deserves a lot of credit that it has not received in recent years.

The annual companywide litter pickup is a prime example of the business giving back to the community. About 65 Kyanite Mining Corp. employees took to the roads across Buckingham last month to pick up litter and beautify the county’s roads, filling up about 575 bags with trash.

Numerous crews worked all day during the annual companywide event, picking up trash along 13 roads, including U.S. routes 60 and 15.

“We do this because we want to give back to the community in a meaningful way,” said Lakshmi Bertram, human resources manager for Kyanite.

Through its economic impact, charitable giving, sponsorships and employee volunteerism, we should all be very, very thankful for having Kyanite Mining Corp. in Buckingham.

Jordan Miles is managing editor of The Farmville Herald. His email address is jordan.miles@farmvilleherald.com.