Message From The Athens City Manager

Recently, I hit pause and took a step Team Athens adopted “Our Why” back from the intense workday that a few years ago. If you have consumes my life — and my family visited City Hall, you have seen this and friends’ lives, too. I devoted much statement hung with care on the time during that period to reflection, walls. It is there as a reminder to recollection, and prayer. citizens and team members alike to reinforce the reasons why we work I prayed for clarity and affirmation for so hard, together, to fight for the my current path. Individuals who are sacred ideals of our community.

community’s warming center at message to “be well, do good.” As a true Keith Memorial United Methodist Vol, I have worked always to exemplify Church. We served 10 people, the Volunteer spirit, but lately I’ve been although not all stayed overnight. disconnected from the people that I One person came in ready to seek serve - I’ve been in board rooms and on help to overcome addiction. We Zoom calls, and there it has been so fed everyone, provided showers, hard for me to see the good that comes clothing, toiletries, and a warm safe from my work and volunteerism – place until dawn broke again. We separated from those whom I actually believe in improving the serve. human condition.

I reflected on a program from my In the community, I’ve heard church in Clifton, Feed His Sheep. many talk about the issues around Once per week we would cook and box homelessness – with genuine care meals, deliver them to people in need, for those affected – yet the call for and make personal contact with those volunteers, to give just one night, we served. It was truly an uplifting and or a few hours has often gone humbling experience. unanswered. The few who give constantly need a rest themselves.

This reflection is what led me to think about Table Graces, a local feeding Homelessness is a noticeable and program in Athens. So, I just showed growing issue for cities worldwide. up on the last Wednesday in October to Last fall, I visited Portland, Oregon ask if they needed a hand. Of course, where tents abound on sidewalks they did and I got put straight to work. all over the downtown area. One It only took a few minutes to find the resident noted that the growth has rhythm and machination of the process only occurred in the last 5-6 years. and just like that – I was lost in service. Cities large and small are seeing Once the assembly line slowed, I took an increase in homelessness, and time to step outside, to place food boxes approaches to help vary widely. in vehicles, to see those we were serving. There are those in our community Afterwards, it was noted that we had a who have given tremendous record day: 240 meals served. Not the amounts of their time and effort kind of record we hope to see. to help those in need. From the bottom of my heart, I am humbled The best day would be when zero food by their contributions and thankful boxes are needed by our neighbors. that they do their best to fill a Until then, there are many of us who current void in service to our can help our friends in need. This neighbors in need. experience let me focus on monotonous

As City Manager, it was important physical labor all the while making a direct, that I served in our warming visible impact on our community and its center to study this issue, those underserved members. affected, and how our community and partners can better serve There it was – uplifting and humbling this portion of our population. As – that feeling of doing good and being the weather has turned warmer, well. It is well with my soul. I can’t help but to look back and think of that night I gave, away My prayer for you this Holiday season is from the warmth and safety of my that if you find yourself like I did, mired own bed, to provide to those in or blasé in the workaday life we tend to greater need.

lead — or if you are getting caught up in things beyond your control — pause. Homelessness has been listed as a priority for our citizens and Pause and find a way to do good. community, and while we have many working toward filling the There are countless volunteer opportunities gap, needs still exist. Many express in our giving community. Even with all the care, but few give. Your local growth and advancement we’ve experienced government doesn’t have the in the past few years, we still have many answer, but we want to be the neighbors in great need. strongest possible partner for our community’s solution. This is, of As we stroll into the holiday season, may course, one of many issues facing you remember to be kind, to give if you our community and we need can, and to find some way to do good; it many more citizens leading the will help you be well. change they want to see.