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Keeping in Touch:  For whom the bell jingles  |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 01 2013 : 1:35:16 PM
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It Jingles for ME!
Three years ago the automotive factory where I worked for 30 years closed its doors. If you’ve seen Michael Moore’s 1989 movie “Roger and Me”, you may have some idea of what an auto plant closing does to a community. It is not just the direct impact to the employees of the plant, but it also impacts the entire community. The plant’s suppliers are often local, or have a local office, and when the plant closes, there is no longer any reason for the company to maintain a local branch. The loss of jobs and employment spreads through the community with a ripple effect – real estate values go down as hundreds of employees move away, local retail businesses lose customers, schools are forced to consolidate to serve fewer students, and the ripples on the pond just keep spreading.
In the case of my hometown, not nearly as big as Flint, Michigan, in Moore’s movie, the effect was somewhat ameliorated because automation had reduced the number of employees from 3600 when I started, to approximately 1200 when the plant closing was announced, and some employees were able to retire without having to move. Those who were too young to retire were given the option to relocate to other locations. On the other hand, it could be argued that the effect was greater in my town than in Flint, because the plant was one of the largest employers in the entire community and one of the few remaining manufacturing facilites. The community had once been home to corporate headquarters of Westinghouse, the Tappan Company, Ohio Brass, Mansfield Tire and Rubber, and a large steel mill, among others. One by one each of these businesses closed or moved elsewhere, until only the auto stamping plant and a few smaller manufacturers remained.
I was one of the employees that were too young to retire. My husband and I both had to make a choice to accept a job at another location or look for local employment. I could have just given up my career and become a “stay at home grandma”. You see, I had three darling baby grandsons that all lived within 8 miles of my home. I had good neighbors, a wonderful church family, a large organic garden in the back yard where I had built up the soil in over 7 years since my husband and I had gotten married. I had a peach tree that had finally born fruit after 7 years. I also had a stall at the local farmer’s market, which didn’t net me much income but was a whole lot of fun. But for my husband, he would not have been able to find equivalent employment in the local area, which meant he would have to travel almost daily to remote plants from as near as 3 hours to as far as 6-7 hours away.
So, we made the painful decision to leave home and relocate to the greater Detroit metropolitan area. We chose the location of our new home based on our ability to afford a small amount of acreage and an existing pole barn, so we have a 40-minute commute to work daily. We attended and joined a local church, and I began volunteering at a local metropark, in an effort to make friends in our new community. Unfortunately, since we travel back home to see the grandchildren on many weekends, we miss church fairly often. During the week we commute together. We are lucky enough to work on the same campus, although in different buildings, so we can save on gas. But commuting together means that if one of us works late, the other does also. So, not many weeknights are spent on local community activities, or even on our garden. And since my daughters are long out of school, and don’t live here, the avenue of making new friends through school activities is closed to us.
We are at the furthest edge of metro Detroit, in a rural area. We actually live on a dirt road! There are a lot of existing farm markets (as opposed to farmer's markets) in the area, so I don't raise vegetables for marketing any more, either.
We have been feeling “lost”. We’ve met our next-door neighbors, but not too many more. I did not realize how much we have become part of the community until I recently had hip replacement surgery. I was surprised to find an organized stream of church members and neighbors bringing casseroles to my door every other day. It’s been two and a half weeks since the surgery and we haven’t had to cook even once, or go to the grocery store except once for milk and juice. I am thankful and amazed and blessed to find that we really are a part of our new community after all. This church takes its mission seriously to love and care for its members. I haven't been a member of a church whose members bake casseroles since my first church back in Ohio in the 1960's and 1970's - I wasn't even sure it was still done. It is a small church, with only about 35 families who actively participate regularly.
The church is currently involved in many missions, including feeding and sheltering homeless men from throughout the Detroit Metro area, stocking local food pantries, and many more through local ministries and the denomination’s outreach. One fundraising effort is important also – the bell tower that houses the bell that calls the members to worship every Sunday is crumbling and requires repair. In the hall leading to the sanctuary they have placed a jar for contributions toward the bell tower repair, with a small handbell to ring each time someone contributes. In another movie, it was said that an angel gets their wings each time a bell rings. I am hoping that many angels get their wings in order to repair the bell tower for this historic building, built in 1914. The church’s web site is http://www.armadacongregational.com/congregational-united-church-michigan.php and I will ring the bell for every farmgirl that sends a contribution, even of $1 or less, to the church for bell tower repair! Just be sure to include MJF somewhere on the note.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
Edited by - brightmeadow on Mar 11 2013 12:46:50 PM |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
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antoinette
True Blue Farmgirl
826 Posts
Toni
East Freedom
PA
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - Mar 02 2013 : 5:07:07 PM
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| Brenda, Do we send the money to you or find the address on the website you have in your post? |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Mar 11 2013 : 12:42:05 PM
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Tiana,
I rang the bell for the farmgirls who have donated so far this week. I hope to get a status update from our church secretary as to farmgirl donations tomorrow, she works Tuesday and Thursday and I guess I must have missed her last Thursday.
The church has a rough estimate of $10,000 for the repair job so we are doing lots of fundraising efforts like raffles, bake sales, silent auction of Easter bonnets, and just plain contributions in order to reach the goal. With such a small church it will take a while to reach the goal.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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darlenelovesart
True Blue Farmgirl
7625 Posts
darlene
Loleta
California
USA
7625 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2013 : 10:00:17 PM
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Brenda
I will send a money order on Monday to the church, if that is ok.
Darlene
I have learned that to have a good friend is the purest of all God's gifts, for it is a love that has no exchange of payment.
by Frances Farmer
Just follow God unquestioningly.
Because you love Him so, for if you trust His judgment there is nothing you need to know.
I trust in you Jesus... |
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HodgeLodge
True Blue Farmgirl
662 Posts
Tiana
Berkeley Springs
WV
USA
662 Posts |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2013 : 06:43:29 AM
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Darlene,
Of course It is OK! Thank you so much, I will ring the bell for your contribution also!
Tiana,
I contacted the secretary yesterday, she is tallying up contributions and should have something soon. Now that I've alerted her to watch for contributions from MJF, it should be easier for her to keep track. Thanks again for your help to reach the goal.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blogs at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com (farming) http://brightmeadowknits.blogspot.com (knitting) or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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FARMALLChick
True Blue Farmgirl
978 Posts
Lora
Alexandria
IN
USA
978 Posts |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
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darlenelovesart
True Blue Farmgirl
7625 Posts
darlene
Loleta
California
USA
7625 Posts |
Posted - May 25 2013 : 9:14:49 PM
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Hi Brenda
How is it going, they should have received the contribution I sent way before now. How is the fund doing?
I hope all is well
God Bless you all
darlene
I have learned that to have a good friend is the purest of all God's gifts, for it is a love that has no exchange of payment.
by Frances Farmer
Just follow God unquestioningly.
Because you love Him so, for if you trust His judgment there is nothing you need to know.
I trust in you Jesus... |
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Keeping in Touch: For whom the bell jingles |
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For whom the bell jingles
