The coronavirus took something from each of us.

If not a loved one who perished from the disease, it took away our job or our business or our favorite gathering place. It took away our chance to see friends and loved ones and celebrate milestones.

We feel worst for our children. In the midst of their formative years, when they should have spent time building lifelong friendships, developing their skills on the court or on the field, finding their place in life by volunteering here or there, the virus instead shoved them in front of computer screens for everything from school work to talking to Grandma.

That’s why we hope Alpena County’s Youth and Recreation Committee invests in big projects this year.

Local groups have until May 3 to apply for a portion of $460,000 available for youth recreational programs. The money comes from a property tax voters first approved in 2010.

With vaccinations on the rise, it appears the end of the blasted pandemic might actually come this summer, and we need to give our kids every opportunity to celebrate.

So we encourage every group in the county to think about programs they could offer that get our kids back together, back outside, interacting with their peers and with trusted mentors. Apply to the committee for a piece of that money, and then give our kids a summer to remember.

They deserve it.

And they need it.