I remember five years ago I was driving through the region of Vladimir, Russia with one of Fund Nadezhda's senior staff (Fund Nadezhda means The Hope Fund). Ylena pointed out a factory in a small town. She said, 'This is a town of 22,000. During Soviet times, that factory employed 8,000 people. Now it employs 800. You understand then why these families have problems and why we have so many orphans.'
This morning I was listening to NPR on my drive to work and hearing about the 6 GM plants shutting down in southeastern Michigan, the cutbacks at plants in northeast Ohio, and the generally challenging economic realities of our times.
Regardless of your views on the politics and policies, we can all agree that we want recovery and we want health and sustainability. I'd encourage you to be active in bringing 'good news' to those who are struggling in this time. My church, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church, is holding a Career Solutions Workshop. Or check out what Vineyard of Columbus is doing for those unemployed and underemployed here.
When factories close, families suffer. This is what Ylena was pointing out. Let's be diligent to come around families in these difficult times and encourage and support them.
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