This is NOT a job for superheroes

Caped wonders with super powers have been created throughout history during times when people were in dire need of "heroes". They could fly or do a Houdini from the arch-rival's snare. But, these heroes stay on the comic book (or the silver screen). Hence, we in the real world face challenges ourselves--sans super powers. Whether it's families breaking apart or declining literacy in the country, it is we who answer the call from where we are, with what we have.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Delivering meals and friendships

It all began with home-baked pecan pies. By delivering pies to their neighbors on Colby Avenue, Jim and Dana Strickland of Everett hoped to satisfy their hunger for enduring friendships.

That was two years ago, between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Stricklands and their three young children had just moved to north Everett from Marysville, where they hadn't even known their neighbors.

"They all had garage door openers. They'd drive in, close the door, and we'd never see them," said Jim Strickland, a teacher at Marysville Junior High School.

What began with pecan pie - "my mom's recipe," Jim Strickland said - is now a year-round meal exchange, with four households trading off cooking duties. The arrangement covers dinners Monday through Thursday nights.

"When somebody makes the effort to reach out, especially in a new neighborhood, the response is going to be open arms," Jim Strickland said.

Full story

1 comment:

sunnyday said...: Hi epiphany!

I'm sure that the spirit of service and community is alive in many quarters, it's just that we don't hear about them enough. There aren't enough stories going around about these things in media! So it's a wonderful thing to actually read something that tells us that people care to help each other out. =)

Come back soon, epiphany. Hope you and your family have a blessed Christmas.; 1:58 PM, December 24, 2005