The Marcolian Online

Apr. 19 , 2007

A Constructive Kind of Charity
Neil Wilhelm
naw001@marietta.edu

Unemployment, layoffs, poverty – challenges that Appalachian Americans have faced for decades. The 29 Appalachian counties in southern Ohio are no exception. Even in a picturesque city like Marietta, where summer tourists stroll the petunia-lined sidewalks, struggling households can be found tucked behind historical homes, or congregated in the low-lying fringes of town.

I was 19 when I first experienced economic hardship. Working as a manufacturer at the Longaberger Company, in Frazeysburg, Ohio, was a decent job for me and thousands of people in my area. Many earned sizeable piecework salaries by weaving baskets, and a pocket of prosperity formed in the area. Some employees commuted from as far as Marietta, a nearly two hour drive, to take advantage of the good pay and benefits. Less than a year after I was hired, I experienced my first layoff. It was not as devastating for me as it was for those who had dedicated considerable portions of their lives to the company. I was young, living with my parents still, and had my family and savings to fall back on. I felt awkward sitting in the break-room after receiving the news, as those with children and mortgages wrung their hands, lit up cigarettes, or called home to devastate their families with the unfortunate message.

Shortly after I lost my job, I realized that I could no longer avoid a college education. Luckily, I received a full scholarship at Zane State Community College, in my hometown of Zanesville. Starting small gave me the experience and discipline to move on and pursue a bachelor’s degree, as it did for many of my coworkers from the Longaberger Company. At Zane State, I met many students of all ages, who had experienced job loss as well. Across the country, manufacturing and industrial jobs are being boxed up and shipped overseas. The age of computers has settled into our region, but too many residents are left unprepared for the transition.

Progress is already under way to equip southern Ohio residents with the technology skills needed to qualify them for secure careers. Colleges are reasonable solutions for some, but free computer access is a better solution for many. According to Southeast Ohio magazine, 129 Community Technology Centers already exist. The Holland Center, located in Corning, Ohio, is a fine example. The center offers high-speed internet access and software training to the community at no cost. Public libraries are also good resources for those who don’t own computers, but they have their limitations.

Factories close, businesses downsize, and jobs are lost, yet many people recover. One of the most challenging ailments of Appalachian Ohio, however, is generational poverty. Growing up in Zanesville – a city with over 19% of families below the poverty level according to the 2000 census – I became well acquainted with this unfortunate tradition. It is a strange feeling to see kids on the streets, who’s faces show not the innocent look of a child, but the same troubled and desperate expressions as their unfortunate elders. Generational poverty is nearly as hard to understand as it is to solve, but children should be top priority.

It seems that children raised by parents who are unable to find jobs, or don’t choose to work, are often deprived of the inspiration to learn and the opportunities to expand their understanding of the world around them. I became a factory worker like my parents before me, and it’s alarming to think that poverty is the only lifestyle that many children in our area have ever known.

To rescue younger generations from this cycle of poverty requires more than just a handout, it calls for a more constructive kind of charity. These children need inspiration, education, and mentors. They need positive and fun learning experiences outside of school. How can they ever reach their full potential when no one shows them that they can be creative, and someday pursue a career that is enjoyable?

The means for such opportunities already exist, but not on the scale that our area needs. In Marietta, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Washington County is one example of an effective youth program — one that nurtures intellect, strong morals, creativity, and the importance of setting goals. At the Club’s Front St. facility, youths from all economic backgrounds have access to computers with internet access and Microsoft programs. I was amazed to see one teen using Microsoft Publisher to create a Venn diagram for a homework assignment. Even in high school, my Venn diagram experiences usually involved tracing around a coffee can.

Teen members of the club can participate in field trips that combine fun activities with visits to college campuses. One recent trip to King’s Island Amusement Park included visits to Xavier University, and the University of Cincinnati. Andie Hannon, the Club’s Executive Director, recalls the details of the trip, “...because the kids weren’t high school seniors looking to apply, it seemed like the colleges just wanted to give them a pat on the head,” she explains. “I made sure that the kids received the full tour, because they may never get the chance to visit again.” The kids also met with financial aid advisors, who assured them that scholarships can make a college education possible.

On the King’s Island trip, the Boys & Girls Club members also came to understand the realities of economic hardship. They volunteered their time at The Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter in the heart of Cincinnati. As I read through handwritten essays penned by the kids after the experience, a statement from twelve-year-old Rebecca Brockmeier filled me with hope:

“Seeing these people out on the street and in homeless shelters made me realize that people who don’t have homes and jobs are just as important as people who have homes and jobs. When I grow up someday I want to work in a homeless shelter and help the homeless get back to their lives.”

By cultivating a sense of compassion in children, and making sure that they are well educated, we can fill them with the desire and ability to help their less fortunate peers, dividing the workload considerably. Generational poverty can be solved by generational charity. Donations of food, money, and clothing stem the problem temporarily, but donations of inspiration, compassion, and education are investments that can spread through our region much faster than poverty ever has.


• Campus News • Viewpoints • Sports • Arts & Living • Greek wrap-up • Ask Marc • Spotlight • New faces at MC • Meet our staff • Staff profiles • Letters to the editor policy • History of the newspaper • Benefits of advertising • Ad rates		Apr. 19 , 2007 A Constructive Kind of Charity Neil Wilhelm naw001@marietta.edu Unemployment, layoffs, poverty – challenges that Appalachian Americans have faced for decades. The 29 Appalachian counties in southern Ohio are no exception. Even in a picturesque city like Marietta, where summer tourists stroll the petunia-lined sidewalks, struggling households can be found tucked behind historical homes, or congregated in the low-lying fringes of town. I was 19 when I first experienced economic hardship. Working as a manufacturer at the Longaberger Company, in Frazeysburg, Ohio, was a decent job for me and thousands of people in my area. Many earned sizeable piecework salaries by weaving baskets, and a pocket of prosperity formed in the area. Some employees commuted from as far as Marietta, a nearly two hour drive, to take advantage of the good pay and benefits. Less than a year after I was hired, I experienced my first layoff. It was not as devastating for me as it was for those who had dedicated considerable portions of their lives to the company. I was young, living with my parents still, and had my family and savings to fall back on. I felt awkward sitting in the break-room after receiving the news, as those with children and mortgages wrung their hands, lit up cigarettes, or called home to devastate their families with the unfortunate message. Shortly after I lost my job, I realized that I could no longer avoid a college education. Luckily, I received a full scholarship at Zane State Community College, in my hometown of Zanesville. Starting small gave me the experience and discipline to move on and pursue a bachelor’s degree, as it did for many of my coworkers from the Longaberger Company. At Zane State, I met many students of all ages, who had experienced job loss as well. Across the country, manufacturing and industrial jobs are being boxed up and shipped overseas. The age of computers has settled into our region, but too many residents are left unprepared for the transition. Progress is already under way to equip southern Ohio residents with the technology skills needed to qualify them for secure careers. Colleges are reasonable solutions for some, but free computer access is a better solution for many. According to Southeast Ohio magazine, 129 Community Technology Centers already exist. The Holland Center, located in Corning, Ohio, is a fine example. The center offers high-speed internet access and software training to the community at no cost. Public libraries are also good resources for those who don’t own computers, but they have their limitations. Factories close, businesses downsize, and jobs are lost, yet many people recover. One of the most challenging ailments of Appalachian Ohio, however, is generational poverty. Growing up in Zanesville – a city with over 19% of families below the poverty level according to the 2000 census – I became well acquainted with this unfortunate tradition. It is a strange feeling to see kids on the streets, who’s faces show not the innocent look of a child, but the same troubled and desperate expressions as their unfortunate elders. Generational poverty is nearly as hard to understand as it is to solve, but children should be top priority. It seems that children raised by parents who are unable to find jobs, or don’t choose to work, are often deprived of the inspiration to learn and the opportunities to expand their understanding of the world around them. I became a factory worker like my parents before me, and it’s alarming to think that poverty is the only lifestyle that many children in our area have ever known. To rescue younger generations from this cycle of poverty requires more than just a handout, it calls for a more constructive kind of charity. These children need inspiration, education, and mentors. They need positive and fun learning experiences outside of school. How can they ever reach their full potential when no one shows them that they can be creative, and someday pursue a career that is enjoyable? The means for such opportunities already exist, but not on the scale that our area needs. In Marietta, the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club of Washington County is one example of an effective youth program — one that nurtures intellect, strong morals, creativity, and the importance of setting goals. At the Club’s Front St. facility, youths from all economic backgrounds have access to computers with internet access and Microsoft programs. I was amazed to see one teen using Microsoft Publisher to create a Venn diagram for a homework assignment. Even in high school, my Venn diagram experiences usually involved tracing around a coffee can. Teen members of the club can participate in field trips that combine fun activities with visits to college campuses. One recent trip to King’s Island Amusement Park included visits to Xavier University, and the University of Cincinnati. Andie Hannon, the Club’s Executive Director, recalls the details of the trip, “...because the kids weren’t high school seniors looking to apply, it seemed like the colleges just wanted to give them a pat on the head,” she explains. “I made sure that the kids received the full tour, because they may never get the chance to visit again.” The kids also met with financial aid advisors, who assured them that scholarships can make a college education possible. On the King’s Island trip, the Boys & Girls Club members also came to understand the realities of economic hardship. They volunteered their time at The Drop Inn Center, a homeless shelter in the heart of Cincinnati. As I read through handwritten essays penned by the kids after the experience, a statement from twelve-year-old Rebecca Brockmeier filled me with hope: “Seeing these people out on the street and in homeless shelters made me realize that people who don’t have homes and jobs are just as important as people who have homes and jobs. When I grow up someday I want to work in a homeless shelter and help the homeless get back to their lives.” By cultivating a sense of compassion in children, and making sure that they are well educated, we can fill them with the desire and ability to help their less fortunate peers, dividing the workload considerably. Generational poverty can be solved by generational charity. Donations of food, money, and clothing stem the problem temporarily, but donations of inspiration, compassion, and education are investments that can spread through our region much faster than poverty ever has.
Mailing address: Marietta College Box A-20, Marietta, Ohio 45750-4000 Physical address: McKinney Media Center, 508 Putnam St, Marietta, Ohio Phone: (740) 376-4555 E-mail: marc@marietta.edu