Regular readers of this blog know about the 4W campaign: the Week of Wonderful Weather and Work.  We challenged Elkhart County to generate 1000 hours of paid work for unemployed people listed in the ECWT Skills Bank, and to contribute $1000 to the ECWT project fund.

Here are some memories that remain from this week:

Being part of a 6 person crew that raked leaves onto the garden plot at the Girls and Boys Club in Goshen.  Most of the leaves came from the house next door, where the man is physically unable to rake, and financially unable to pay.  The crew was paid using money donated through the 4W campaign.

Getting an email from a friend who said, “I’ve hired my neighbor to cut up some downed trees on my property.  He’s going to get 30 – 40 hours of work.  I’m sure you can add some of that time to this week’s count.”

Receiving donations from people walking by the street who stopped to ask us what we were doing.

Working together with people from different economic backgrounds and very different religious and political views – and liking them and enjoying working together.

Being able to send emails to people in the Skills Bank and offer them a day’s paid work.

Sitting in the ECWT office this morning – after the 4W campaign is ended, receiving phone calls and visits from people hiring workers through the Skills Bank.

So, did it work?  Yes it worked.  People responded with generosity to the needs of others in Elkhart County.  Yards look nicer. Sheds will make it through the winter with less damage from snow and water.   A garden will yield more food next year.

And people who really need it have money to put gas in their cars, buy food, and make mortgage payments.

Elkhart County works together is an idea – an idea that needs peoples’ active involvement to work.  That’s what happened last week.  That’s what is happening this week.  That’s what needs to happen next week, and the week after that, and every week, until we make it through these hard times.

What can you do to help Elkhart County work together?