Springfield's Spirit
May 17, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Springfield knows how to throw a party. Waking up to the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast lining Main Street, to the last explosive firework illuminating the night sky over Blunt Park, May 14th was a day to remember in the city. The Spirit of Springfield under the direction of Judith Matt organized a day full of festivities worthy of Springfield's 375 Birthday. The Massachusetts National Guard shared the anniversary and the glory. Big Y Supermarkets used the occasion to celebrate its 75th anniversary as well. There was a sense of community that transcended the daily despair of budgets and crime. In the words of the school children who sang on the steps of City Hall, "This heart of mine belongs to Springfield. Springfield, Massachusetts is my home."
The City of Homes and its 11 neighborhoods were represented in a two hour parade and memorialized on commemorative tee shirts that read, "Every neighborhood tells a story." The story that may not be told, but for this blog, is the story of the homeless and how this celebration reached out to them. In the spirit that truly is, The Spirit of Springfield, over 100 tickets to the pancake breakfast were delivered along with a personal invitation to those men and women staying in the shelter on Worthington Street. Amidst the thousands who gathered in downtown for these special events Saturday, were homeless men and women who also cherish moments of normalcy and inclusion, along what is too often a lonely journey. Except for the fact that I recognize their faces and know their names, they blended in like all the other proud city residents. Though their address may be temporary, their roots are strongly planted here. And in their unwillingness to give up on themselves and their city, there is an example for all of us and hope for the future of our community.
In the final gesture of grace this weekend, gallons of leftover milk and juice were donated to the FOH Dining Room. Both are a treat to the hundreds of individuals who depend on the kitchen for three meals a day, seven days a week. The memory of Springfield's 375th Birthday Celebration will nourish both bodies and souls for many days to come.
Kathy Tobin
After almost thirty years covering the news for television affiliates in Western Massachusetts, Kathy joined Friends of the Homeless in the fall of 2009 to help raise money and the profile of the organization to fulfill its mission. As Director of Development, Kathy is available to help you understand the work we are doing and how you might contribute to end homelessness in our community.