By Jonathan Dobson
Pagosa Springs Cub Scout Pack 807
It seems to me that one of the only ways to be more than just lost in the fray of the apparently endless, toxic debate and ever-mounting dudgeon that collectively in America we have all become accustomed to — paralyzed and tragically consumed by as a nation these latter days — is to find the opportunity to serve each other, if we can, in the name of our shared core ideals and common fate, to liberate one another through our actions rather than seek to limit one another because of our fears. We can argue about what freedom means, or we can employ ourselves with taking advantage of the fact that we are free… free enough, at least, perhaps, to help one another out of a difficulty or through a tragedy if we find a neighbor so confronted.
Crises, in this way, can become opportunities, leading us to possibly discover a healing that redirects us to a path where the larger discourse over how we are set to live alongside, care for and learn to tolerate one another might find a rightful tone, one that our forefathers would recognize and hope to see us fostering and safeguarding for each other in civic duty to our heritage as well as out of a sense of basic responsibility and concern for each others’ well being… something of which our children and future generations could be proud and look to build upon themselves. It takes a village, Hillary Clinton wrote, famously using the phrase as a book title. Maybe sometimes it also takes a tornado.
Hearing, as we all did, about the cataclysm that on December 10th was visited upon Mayfield and Dawson Springs, Kentucky, as well as other places, by a swirl of long-tracked F-5 tornadoes, our local Pagosa Springs Cub Scout chapter, Pack 807, began an assistance initiative. My ten year-old son and I were already charting a trip by truck to New York to see family over Christmas, so it made sense that such a delivery from our town to these afflicted places could be included, adding only a few hours onto our journey. After all, it was Christmas time, and it being better to give than to receive, I figured we might be able to muster not only some help for these people who had suffered something unimaginable, but also it would be a chance to hopefully instill in the minds and hearts of the twelve badge-earning Cub Scouts who meet at the Methodist Church most every week, who were in charge of sorting and packing the goods into the truck that were collected through our efforts, a sense of their own power to do good in this world. A sense that if you can think something up, you can do it, as long as you are not scared to put in the work. We teach heart making its example together. An important skill to develop in this or any time. ‘Do Your Best’ is the Cub Scout motto and this, what we could do, was our best.
We spent some time writing notes that would be inserted into the many 5-gallon buckets that our local Sherwin-Williams paint store had contributed to serve as containers for donation disbursement. From Pagosa Springs to Dawson Springs, with love. These were more than just buckets of sweets, sanitary accessories, blankets, toys and canned goods, etc. These were 5 gallon missives of hope and Christmas belief, encouragement to have faith. Assurances made to people who had lived through an indescribable trauma that there is also a power of brotherhood, of care and healing, and that it can be expressed by the simplest of acts. There were also donations of clothing, sheets and blankets, and probably about 15 beautiful new pillows (received with notable enthusiasm in Mayfield at the donation hub).
Everything delivered was received with sincere thanks, falling into the hands of the people Jonah and I unloaded our donations for like water pulled directly to the roots of some plants in the desert that would do everything they could to not waste a drop.
Into the question of whether the response that our town could make would help, the delivery, assembled over only a five day period, departed in the back of a 3/4 ton pick-up truck on December 20. On the 22nd, 12 days after the tornado, these things were handed out in Kentucky over the course of a 4 or 5 hour period that my son and I will never forget.
Donations came full-throated from nearly every store or locale in our town that was petitioned — and were, as a rule, given with only an excitement over being able to help, and thankfulness for being given the chance, rather than with any kind of reluctance or parsimony. I was moved by the red tape that was slashed and the immediate trust with which people came forth upon learning that it was our group, the Cub Scouts, that were on the job. Pagosa Springs showed up. Everyone who donated was representing us all, and for all of us, I would like to thank, specifically (and in no particular order, you all come first), Higher Grounds Coffee, City Market, The Buck Stops Here, Natural Grocers, Walmart, Holy Smokes, Joy’s Natural Foods, Upscale Resale, and our friends from the paint store already mentioned.
Great thanks as well to everyone who dropped donation items at the address listed here in this Post three weeks ago, when the call first went out.
Holy smokes is right! A goodness traveled with us that had me chuckling when I looked at our truck, because it resembled the groaning and buckling sleigh conducted by that very Grinch who stole Christmas, overloaded except this time with opposite intent of that harbored by Mr. Grinch. Doing our part to save Christmas even if for just a few, it is my hope, Pagosa Springs, that you will be able to read this much abbreviated report (there are so many parts of what we saw and did that I wish I could expand upon here) and feel your heart grow three sizes, as has been earned and is deserved.
Jonah and I had made our delivery, emptying the truck completely in, as reported, in the partially destroyed municipalities of Mayfield and Dawson Springs, where the angels of every color and creed, who were there to help rehabilitate, feed and lend comfort, had turned out…