Dear Editor,
Every year, when I see the invitation to senior citizens to enjoy the benefits of Brandon Township’s Rockin? & Rakin? Day, I think, ‘How nice that the township does something like this for its old people and those who are disabled.? This year, at age 80, I crossed over and became one of them.
A little over a week ago, just after I’d started my spring mulching, I had heart surgery, with doctor’s orders to avoid stairs, heavy lifting, bungee-jumping and hang-gliding. Nothing major, – just a couple of stents, but enough to slow me down. So I contacted the Senior Center and got on their list.
Last Saturday, (remember how cold, rainy, and windy it was?), eight eager teenagers with Pastor Ken from Ortonville’s Hillside Bible Church, swarmed all over my property, washing windows, mowing, mulching, transplanting, raking and trimming. According to organizer, Township Clerk Jeannie McCreery, my experience was repeated at many homes in the township, with nearly 200 volunteers turning out to help. Once again, I’m stunned by the generosity in this community.
And that’s not all. That same day, between 150 and 200 additional volunteers showed up to work with science teacher Dave Green and the 4-H Youth Conservation Council to clean up our cool jewel, Kearsley Creek.
Both events were masterpieces of organization, under the able guidance of Clerk McCreery, teacher Dave Green, and MSU Extension Service’s Jason Scott. That adds up to between 350 and 400 volunteers on just one miserable day in May. Pretty phenomenal, I’d say.
My heartfelt thanks to all. I wonder if residents realize how lucky we are to live in such an open-hearted community.
Lois B. Robbins