by Christine Whelan-FEO
Jan 20, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 11
Story 1: The Clothesline Project
People’s Memorial United Church, proudly standing tall in the middle of Ridgeway, its town, turns 150 years old this year.
Betty Gudza, a member of the church, remarked, “It’s amazing how long a building can be around.”
Betty contacted the Observer, “We want people to be aware of the church, its people and its history.” And a list of story ideas was created, to be published throughout the year.
Gudza has more than recognition and celebration in mind. She is concerned about the future of the church. “There are still 15 members who come out every Sunday. But who knows what the next five to ten years are going to bring the church?” Betty and two others are the youngest. The rest of the members of the church are over 80, now as high as 98 years old.
“We have another church within our church. They’ve rented space in the building. We’ve got such a big church, we can rent.”
Betty shared that some of the members continue to give back to the community. “We had our rummage sale, and we had our vendors’ sale from June to December last year. They were wonderful. The money we raised was given to the food bank. Some of the ladies are still willing to do. Even at their age, they are still willing to do. We sold over $1,000 of meat pies two years ago. We didn’t do it last year, of course, because of COVID.”
The Clothesline Project
Audrey Sims of Ridgeway, another member of People’s Memorial United Church, initiated and has been leading a much needed and quite successful project for about ten years now.
Ten cold, Ridgeway winters.
Audrey recalled when it all started. “I had heard it on the Buffalo News one night. And I thought, what a wonderful idea.” She had seen a report about a clothesline, hanging outside in one of the Buffalo neighbourhoods, making available hats, mittens and other items that might be needed.
“I mentioned it to my United Church ladies at a meeting. They thought it was a great idea as well. So, we contacted the Town to make sure we could do it.”
She continued, “This little clothesline was put up on the corner of the church property, at Dominion Road and Ridge Road N. Members of the church started donating items like hats, mitts, socks, gloves.”
Audrey reminded me that, although she may be the one who got the project started, it’s not just her keeping it going. “I’m just the one who makes sure everything gets onto the line.”
Some of the ladies at the church knit and some articles are bought. “Members will go out to the dollar store, for example. Everything is brought to me and I bag them and mark on the bag what’s in it, and the size, if needed.”
Betty helps by checking out the line when Audrey doesn’t get out.
“We do get gently used items hung on the line from others walking by. People have been going through their closets. I keep things in my vehicle so when I’m driving by and I see it needs filling, I’ll stop by and hang more. It goes quite fast.”
I asked Audrey when they usually put the clothesline out each year and until when. “This year we started later because the temperature didn’t go down until December. I start when it gets cold. There’s no set start or end. I stop when I run out. If I run out before March, I run out.” They do what they can with what they’ve got.
The colder the days, the more attention Audrey and Betty put on the line to make sure there is enough to cover the need.
“I don’t know everyone who adds to it,” Audrey remarked, “The pins are up and available. I think sometimes community and other church members add to the line. There have been items there that I hadn’t put up.”
Betty also commented that whatever has been hung on the clothesline has been taken quickly. “And not just hats and mittens. We’ve put jackets out there and they’ve gone. We’ve put shoes out there and they’ve gone.” She also sees that the community has been silently stepping up and hanging items at Dominion and Ridge.
Audrey and Betty welcome community members to add to the clothesline. They ask to please include only new and gently used items. “So far so good. People have been contributing very helpful items.”
The People’s Memorial United Church, Ridgeway, welcomes any newcomers — whether new to the area, have roots in the area, or somewhere in between — to come out and connect when comfortable with the current safety conditions.
We never know how we influence each other. I’m sure those involved in that Buffalo News report all those years ago had no idea they initiated a ten-year ongoing project in another country.
Photos by Betty Gudza
