The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

What Makes Our Towns So Close Knit?

Dessa Rodeffer Quill Publisher

28 January 2004

The more you give, the more you get in return - and in small towns there are just a lot of people who love to help out their community and other people. I think it partly comes from living in the same place for a long time, and making a stake in where you live.

In early years, before roads and towns existed, people came together to settle, build a community, and schools, and roads. That took a lot of cooperation and thinking of others.

Our community banks are a great example of close-knit folks. Volunteer firemen and ambulance crews, Lions and church groups all work to meet a need in a community.

As people match their expertise with the needs of a community, you just can't help but become close-knit. I can remember the late Representative Clarence Neff, during his busy days in Springfield, taking time out to attend a funeral of a neighbor or friend from Stronghurst.

Thank God there are the many in small communities that can be pulled away from the television to serve the needs of their community. It's true. The more you work on something, the more you appreciate it.

Our forefathers worked hard on America. We must not get too comfortable - but keep building and working together to keep the strength of our community strong,