By Ann Harper
How do we get through these trying and unprecedented times? Obviously we should listen to what the experts have to say, comply with the mandates and use a lot of common sense as we go about our daily lives, but generosity can be a powerful tool as well. Generosity not only benefits others, it’s a natural confidence builder and being generous to our neighbors can be infectious (no pun intended).
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, numerous acts of kindness have occurred all over the River Region. Recently, Mayor Al Kelley told me about one such act of generosity. It’s an example of businesses helping other businesses and of making people’s lives better in the process.
Tammie Silas, owner of Autumn Place, an assisted living home in Millbrook, along with one of its residents, purchased close to 300 meals from Front Porch Grill, also in Millbrook, to deliver to the staff at Prattville Baptist Hospital over a two-day period. “God has truly blessed me, and I believe that He leads us to take care of one another. I want to help where I can. I wanted to help Marty Bean, FPG owner, because I know our small businesses are struggling, but I also wanted to make the day a little brighter for the staff at Prattville Baptist. These health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 response,” Silas said. Even the 13 residents at Autumn Place had a hand in the neighborly act. They wrote uplifting notes and selected scripture verses that were attached to each meal.
Marty Bean said he looked at this act of kindness two ways, “Tammie obviously wanted to do something nice for the hospital workers, but she also helped me as a business owner tremendously. That was a lot of meals and I truly appreciate her and the business she gave me. It’s been tough for everyone.”
Filling such a big order takes manpower and Lucretia Cauthen of Lucretia Cauthen Realty, volunteered her time to help on the Front Porch Grill meal assembly line. “I went up to Front Porch Grill on Thursday to order some lunches and I saw how busy they were at that time. The servers were doing all that they could. I found Marty Bean and asked if there was any way I could help and he put me to work on the assembly line. I would do it again if he needed me,” Cauthen said.
Hopefully this act of generosity will inspire another act of generosity.
