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FROM OUR CONSULTING EDITOR
As if 2021 wasn’t already
under the pressure of establishing
a decent name for itself after its drunk older sister, 2020, left her
mile-wide trail of destruction—enter the ice storm! Ice paralyzes
our communities—and this storm was no exception. It was beautiful
for a minute, but quickly turned into the guest that had overstayed
their welcome.
But while lots of families were able to shelter in place together,
riding it out, enjoying sledding and the beauty of the moment, one
group took to the streets to protect the most vulnerable.
If you were anywhere near any type of social media you likely saw
where the team at Shower Power, a local ministry serving Jackson’s
homeless community founded by Teresa Renkenberger, was
scrambling for donations in order to get their unsheltered friends
into the safety of area hotels. I am a part of that team.
Our goal was to house 50 people for as long as it took for the
temperatures to rise above freezing. And every time we looked at the
forecast—the longer it seemed that would take. We kept asking
for and accepting donations—and we kept putting people in hotels.
We had people in eight hotels across the metro with the majority of
them in the soon-to-be sold out downtown area.
When it was all said and done, we’d put 137 people in hotels for
nearly eleven nights each. The Salvation Army agreed to bring out
their emergency canteen truck and help to feed our friends. It was an
operation that reminded me of Katrina—just on a smaller scale. Having
them come alongside us took our operation to a whole different level.
We’ve received incredible feedback from our community of
supporters we’ve fondly named our “Village.” And the words “thankyou”
will never be enough to express not only our gratitude for the
ability to help so many—but the gratitude and acknowledgement
from those being helped.
Thank you Tahya, my friend, who so patiently waited on us to
finish doing what we needed to do. And for allowing me this space
to thank everyone we can for the incredible love and support.
It really does take a village.
– Mary Ann
HOMETOWN STAFF
IN THIS ISSUE
Reader Spotlight 7
PUBLISHER & EDITOR
Tahya Dobbs
CFO
Kevin Dobbs
CONSULTING EDITOR
Mary Ann Kirby
The Way We Were 10
Hometown Family 12
Time to Grow 21
SPECIAL PROJECTS
MANAGER
Brenda McCall
SPECIAL PROJECTS
ASSISTANT
Caroline Hodges
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
Alisha Floyd
Madison's Red Caboose 32
Faith on the Field 38
Random Acts of Kindness 42
Making a Difference 48
LAYOUT DESIGN
Daniel Thomas
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Othel Anding
ADVERTISING
ASSISTANT
Jodi Jackson
Time Coin 58 ...see you around town.
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Hometown MADISON • 5