A number of years ago, there was a big push to find out what Windham residents would like their community to be – hundreds of people got together at the high school, broke up into small groups and talked about what they liked and disliked and what they would like to see happen. Overwhelmingly, people wanted a “sense of community.”
It was as though the goal, a sense of community, was something that would appear by decree of town government. They seemed ignorant of the fact that community spirit is in their control.
Every week I observe that sense of community which seems to elude so many. It shows up in volunteers who serve without pay and at a real dollar cost to them, on boards and committees. When I observe men and women and children tending the flower gardens at the rotary each year, all summer long, that shows me a sense of community.
When a couple living in a private, but historic, home change their work schedule to accommodate 40 third grade students on a field trip and welcome those children into their home, giving them a room-by-room description of life in the 1700s – that’s a sense of community.
Veterans Day
Windham Veterans Association is holding an open house and dedication ceremony on Memorial Day. Refreshments are part of the long list of “things to do.” I said I’d help with that aspect of it and then wondered what I’d gotten myself into. Who would help me? I was going to call all my fellow historical society members but they’re already committed to providing baked goods to sell at the election that same week. But these same members are also involved in many other groups. (That community involvement again.)
Here’s how you can tell when a person has community spirit. When asked if they would be available to help me set up the tables and food for perhaps 100 people, they ask what time they should be there and what else could they do – did I want them to bake something? One woman will be working at the election on Tuesday, but agreed eagerly to helping at the Vet’s Center on Friday. She’ll bring some cookies, too. She also committed her husband to help. It took me just half an hour on the phone to round up enough women to help bake, prepare and work toward providing a wonderful honoring day for our veterans, young and old.
Community spirit is alive and well in Windham, as it’s always been. The town has always come together in times of emergency. Witness the several benefits recently to help out unfortunate families and individuals who’ve run into a snag in their routines.
And here we are in the fall of the year, facing holidays which are sure to bring many families together. There are some in our town who may not anticipate the holidays as much as others; for them, buying toys, preparing a big meal are expenses they just can’t meet. For those of us whose toy-buying days are over, or who are lucky enough to not have to be concerned with the price of food or fuel, let’s help our fellow citizens – our community.
When the opportunity arises to adopt a family at Christmas or Thanksgiving, or to donate money, toys or food – let’s do that and feed the spirit of community that thrives in this hometown of mine and helps all of us, old-timer and newcomer alike.
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