Its What Neighbors Do - by Cathy Burton

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The opinions expressed in these articles and features are those of their author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of McANA or the opinion of its Directors or Officers.

Its What Neighbors Do
by Cathy Burton

As sometimes happens, my article this month is not on the topic I originally intended. (Which was the controversy surrounding funding for the Indianapolis Colts - but I’ll have my “urr...say” next month) But a discussion at MCANA’s October Board meeting spurred me to once again lean toward the “sappy” and write instead about neighborhoods at their best - even in the worst of times.

When tornadoes moved through neighborhoods on the south and east sides of Indianapolis last month, it would have been difficult to imagine anything good coming from the disaster. But, rather than fall into despair, our community proved that Indianapolis knows the most important thing about “building better neighborhoods.”

The day after the tornadoes, on the way to and from a meeting, I passed through several of the neighborhoods in Warren and Perry Townships that were hardest hit by the storm. Hearing about the devastation is much different from viewing the details first hand. It is certainly difficult enough for anyone to deal with the physical aftermath of a tornado, but for most there is the additional, emotional trauma of having lived through the out-of-control, random destruction. Looking at the losses suffered by the victims of the tornadoes, there is always a tug of guilt when you think, “Thank God it wasn’t me.”

But as I drove through these neighborhoods, there was something else that struck an even stronger cord than disbelief. In several of the neighborhoods, the traffic was slowed or stopped. However, for the most part, it was not downed power lines or toppled trees that were the cause; it was the number of cars parked along the roadside bringing helpers into the neighborhoods, and the people carrying supplies to begin the clean up.

It was amazing. Although I did not see every area hit by the tornado, in those which I did, the theme was consistent. People were pitching in everywhere. Chain saws and ladders, trash bags and brooms were in abundance. Pick up trucks and trailers lined the streets and were parked in driveways and yards, standing by to haul away the debris. It seemed there were people coming from everywhere; adults, teenagers, children, streaming in to start the cleanup. I assumed that these were relatives or people from the same neighborhoods who were fortunate enough to have been skipped over by mother nature, but in the days after the storms, as we discussed at our Board meeting last week, we all found out how compassion doesn’t stop with those who know you by your first name.

We heard stories of the assistance that came from all quarters. From organized groups to individuals from across town who just wanted to help. Sometimes their arrivals were planned and coordinated. Sometimes people just showed up unannounced, rolled up their sleeves to work, and left without ever giving their names. Sometimes the helpers waited patiently for hours with nothing to do until their hands were needed for mere minutes to lift a tree or secure a tarp. Kids in schools and scout groups collected money and gave up profits from fund-raisers (already earmarked for other things) to help people get back on their feet. Strangers brought in everything from sandwiches and drinks to building supplies and extra bedding.

I expect there will never be a full accounting of every person or organization or school or church who helped with the disaster relief. To try to start recognizing individuals and groups by name would inevitably result in an incomplete list. But the people who came out to help didn’t do it to get their names on a list or their faces on a camera. They did it because it was simply the right thing to do. And by doing it they proved that the most important thing in “building better neighborhoods” isn’t the dollars and the government programs.

It is kindness and generosity, and the strength of human spirit in the people who are “the neighborhoods.”

Cathy Burton