Baskets of food paid forward after two generations
This year, FFGE is celebrating the holiday season with a special “Gifts That Keep Giving” year-end campaign. From now through the New Year we will be sharing stories of generosity from our lives and work together that changed our lives and touched our hearts.
To kick us off, here’s a story from our Interim Executive Director, Michael Montgomery.
When Michael Montgomery was in college, he had a job as a pick-and-shovel man on a road construction crew. It was miserable work for which he was grateful because it paid for the next year’s college tuition.
But, one year when he reported for work, he was greeted with a large group of people standing around. It was the ‘report on’ date, but the contracts had not come in on time and there was no actual work.
In road construction work, mechanics, supervisors, foremen, heavy equipment operators are all important. Shovel men are not.
He was faced with unemployment.
But soon, Michael was told to report to a gravel pit operation, run by two brothers. After two years of working there, he learned why: during the Great Depression, Montgomery’s grandmother had brought food baskets to the brothers’ home when times were especially tough. While their mother was too ashamed of her need to ever say a word, her sons remembered that they “ate a whole lot better the week Old Lady Montgomery came by.”
Years later, hiring her grandson was their way of saying thanks.
Throughout this season of giving, we’ll be sharing stories like these. You never know how your small actions of generosity can change lives, for generations to come.
Do you have a story of a gift that keeps giving?
Share it by emailing ed@ffge.org and we may feature it on our website and social media.
Take action now by participating in our year-end “Gifts that Keep Giving” campaign.
Volunteer to pack holiday meals, or donate to help us provide food for our neighbors–a $25 gift to FFGE can easily supply a festive spread for a family of four.
Will you make a gift that keeps giving during this season of gratitude?