Though I’ve lived in Ohio for more than 26 years, when people ask me where I’m from, I still answer Iowa, usually to the painfully inevitable response, “That’s where they grow potatoes, right?”
I’ve made brief and infrequent returns to Iowa over the years, but with each trip, I’m reminded of the friendly goodness of Iowans, receiving many earnest invitations to “stop over for a visit.”
In January, my younger brother, and resident Eastern Iowan, was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer that has proved to be tenacious in its resistance to treatment. A part-time farmer, who would prefer to be farming full time, if such a thing were commonly possible these days, Marty also is employed by Quaker.
Another employee at Quaker, who has no close personal history with Marty and his family, decided to organize a benefit to help the family offset mounting medical expenses. He was soon joined by others who assembled a larger group of volunteers and a sizable and varied assortment of donations (mostly from current or former Iowans) that promises to make this an impressive event.
In writing to a longtime friend who is a member of the organizing group, I offered my thanks for the time and effort that he and others have given to help my brother. My friend’s response was typical and, I believe, a comment on most Iowans. His response: “It seems in Iowa, especially when the chips are down, we don’t really have friends — we just have bigger families.”
Carl Vine
Letter to the editor: "Iowans rally to take care of one another"
Cedar Rapids Gazette online 8/19/2012, print 8/20/2012
Thanks to everyone who organized and participated in the benefit. Attendance was much greater than anticipated, and the generous donations will help Marty and his family maintain a focus on attending to his recovery.
Once again, the sentiments above (written before the benefit) have held true.
