LIFE OF A TIE

DONATIONS GIVE LOCAL CHILDREN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN LIFE SKILL

It’s hard to understand what a Godly man or Godly woman looks like when your own parents aren’t there to show you. Many children Appalachian Ministries (AM) serves are growing up in homes that are missing one or both parents, forcing grandparents or other relatives to step in. This year, AM included “split time” in their daily curriculum for the boys and girls to split up and dive deeper into what it means to be a daughter of the King or a man of God.

And what is one of the most classic manhood skills? Tying a tie, of course. AM wanted to give the boys a tie of their own, but ties aren’t cheap. So, AM sent out a call to the community for anyone to donate ties they weren’t using, and, in less than a week, 300 ties came in.

The tie drive was, according to the AM director, Caitlyn Howell, “the most random thing we did to save money.” But it turned into so much more.

First of all, several college guys on the AM team didn’t know how to tie a tie, so they got to learn! Secondly, approximately 50 young boys learned this valuable life skill. Unexpectedly, the men who donated ties – many of whom were retirees – felt a deeper meaning behind giving their ties away. It was like they were passing a baton, handing the memories and big moments they’d had while wearing those ties to the young boys who would wear them next.

The symbolism was probably lost on the boys, but they had fun tying the ties! A few were overwhelmed with keeping track of the steps, but their faces lit up when the college guys stepped in and helped guide them.

One rambunctious boy bounced up to Howell after he’d finished tying and said, “Look! I’m ready for work!” With some of the children’s families relying solely on federal checks for financial support, it was striking to see how a simple thing like a tie could help gear the boys’ minds toward working a regular job. Any step toward a financially stable future is a step in the right direction.

AM donated the leftover ties to Pete’s Closet, a Cumberlands service that provides essential items to college students who don’t have the finances to purchase them. Up to 300 boys and young men will benefit from the community’s donations.