Community Yard Sale to Help a Family

Jann Robinson, founder of Backstage Catering Company, is a BirminghamMom of six young children who was widowed when her husband, Dave, lost his battle with lymphoma a couple of years ago. Although she has continued to maintain and develop her customer base, the recession has had a negative impact on her business.

Like many, Jann has subsequently faced financial difficulties. Martha Stewart herself will tell you about the considerable hours and effort inherent in the catering business. (Jann and her late husband sold fried turkeys at Thanksgiving for several years. I'm anxious just thinking about dressing the turkey in my freezer for family; I can't imagine being responsible for anybody else's turkey.) Despite all her efforts, it's understandably a huge challenge to support six kids. In particular, her mortgage has been a strain, and some members of her community have decided they are going to do what they can to keep Jann in her house.

This Saturday, November 21, Jann's friends, neighbors, and friends-of-friends will be having a yard sale to benefit Jann's family and help them stay in her home. The large sale will be held at Mountain Brook Baptist Church beginning at 8 a.m. and Jann herself will be selling some of her culinary specialties. Just by shopping this sale, you can help a family and probably find some great bargains for yourself.

This story offers many points for us to ponder. First, how many of us would be prepared or able to support our children if we suddenly lost our spouse?

What family, friendships, and community ties would see us through? You've read the studies that show happiness correlates with relationships, not material things. Doesn't it seem apparent at a time like this? How would you feel to pull into a parking lot and see it full of people who had come to support you? To see all the things given by people, some of whom you hadn't even met, who wanted to help in some way and keep you in your home? That's a lesson in the power of community that Jann's kids will never forget.  

Isn't it encouraging to hear about a group of concerned neighbors and friends who will mobilize to make a difference?

There are a lot of people who are hurting right now in addition to the Robinsons. We've all heard the expression "the wolf is always at the door," but maybe until now the wolf has been at someone else's door in another place. Today even affluent areas are feeling a bit of the insecurity that is a part of everyday living for some in our communities. We are all, it turns out, more vulnerable than we thought. Visit the yard sale and help a Birmingham family keep the proverbial wolf at bay.