Johnstown, Pennsylvania. A city famous for its floods and steel industry, now so often seen in a negative eye. People look at the drugs, the shootings, and the poverty, and often have trouble looking past those things to see the real heart of the city, and the beautiful hearts the people of Johnstown have.
I just so happen to think that Johnstown is pretty great. And I think the way the people of Johnstown pull together for the sake of others is even better. There are a lot of really awful things happening the world, and specifically our in nation right now. The response of Johnstown to those in need is nothing short of inspiring, amazing, and a true reflection of who we really are.
As a community, we just sent seven tractor trailers to Texas. Those tractor trailers were full of donated supplies. People donated their time to load the trucks. People donated countless, very necessary items to complete strangers. Trucks and trailers were offered up to be utilized. People volunteered to drive trucks there and back. The initial goal was to fill one trailer, yet somehow a city of just over 20,000 people managed to completely fill 7 tractor trailers in just a few weeks. An idea didn't become reality, an idea became a dream come true.
Thank you, Johnstown, for reminding us all what this great city is all about. Thank you for shining such a bright light on such a damaged city, and on such a horrific event. Thank you to everyone who donated any time, or any treasure. Whether you ran the show, or donated one item, you made a difference. You are a blessing to this city, a great example to everyone you meet, and a life saver to those affected by the hurricane. God will surely bless you.
This entire experience calls to mind my favorite quote from Mr. Rogers,
When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.
I was looking for the helpers, and I found them in Johnstown.
