Homelessness is a circumstance. It is not a class or a belief, inherited trait or even an identity.

I, along with most people reading this, have the privilege of presuming to have access to secure shelter and nourishing meals.

Yet we certainly are not identified or classified or judged as “homed.” However, there are hundreds of people who live among us who, for a myriad of reasons, go without having those most basic needs met and are stereotyped as “homeless.”

That distinction allows for some to project classist judgments that are demeaning,wrong and plainly immoral.

We are a good community.

In fact, we are a highly desired place to live, due in large part to our fierce sense of mutual support and acceptance, the hallmarks of “community.” But we sometimes lose sight of what that means and requires.

I am grateful, therefore, that there are devoted volunteers and workers who remind us every early autumn that there is great need in the Valley and we have the means and the ability to help.

The good people who coordinate the annual drive known as Shelter Sunday need to hear from all of us who profess to care. The Shelter Sunday drive is the largest fundraiser for five local agencies that provide food and secure safe places to sleep and bathe to individuals and families who need it.

They are the Grove Street Inn, the Interfaith Winter Shelter managed by the Friends of Hampshire County Homeless, MANNA Meals, the Single Room Occupancy Project and Grace House.

In the past, volunteers would fan out on Shelter Sunday morning and knock on doors collecting donations from people of goodwill. And greater Northampton has proven to be very generous, time and time again.

This year, each household will receive a mailed solicitation instead of a gentle knock. Please don’t relegate this appeal to the paper recycling bin.

Take the time to read it and participate in making Northampton a better place by sending your donation. On Sunday, Oct. 16, there will also be collection sites around the city for folks to drop off their contributions. People may also donate directly. Learn more about how to do that at www.sheltersunday.com.

Our humanity is gauged by the respect, dignity and support we afford each other. And while there are no magazine or website “top 10 most humane places in the U.S.” awards, it is a noble aspiration to hold.

Bill Dwight is president of the Northampton City Council.