New York. LA. Buford, Wyoming. It doesn't matter where you are from, it's home. And there's no place like it. As a teenager we can't wait to leave the imaginary boundaries of our home town. As an adult we realize we took it for granted. Kremlin, Montana doesn't have a lot to offer in the typical definition of entertainment. When I was growing up in the town of less than 100, there was no grocery store or movie theater. We didn't have a mall or golf course. I wouldn't say I was chomping at the bit to get out, but I was excited to see what the rest of the world had to offer. What I have quickly learned is that Kremlin, a town that barely shows up on Google Maps, had a much bigger hand in making me the man I have become today. Sure, it took some getting in trouble, making mistakes and countless lessons learned. But it taught me much more. What the small community lacks in size, it makes up in heart. When an individual or family is in need, Kremlin and the surrounding areas of the Hi-Line are quick to offer support. It's not just northern Montana. The entire state comes to the aid of those seeking assistance. I have had the honor of reporting on a handful of these stories. There was the time the Hi-Line community rallied around a teenage girl, Taylor Warren, after she suffered a severe head injury on the basketball court. Citizens responded on the eastern end of the Hi-Line when the Glasgow Reds baseball field flooded, forcing the team to rebuild. Athletic programs have stepped up to the plate on numerous occasions. The Great Falls Voyagers chipped in to give a teenager fighting cancer a day at the ballpark. Former Montana State quarterback DeNarius McGhee isn't a "true" Montanan, yet he had no problem spending time with two young Havre boys who had recently lost their father. There's no place like home. Earlier this fall, the Belt community suffered a tragedy on the football field. Junior Robert Back suffered a head injury in early September forcing him into the Intensive Care Unit at nearby Benefis Health System. As Robert began a fight for his life, support poured in from all corners of Montana. One week after the injury, Great Falls Central Catholic held a fundraising effort when the Mustangs hosted the Belt Huskies in football. Over $3,500 was raised. Local television stations KRTV and KFBB offered reports on the response of the communities. I spoke with Belt head football coach and Montana native Jeff Graham on Sunday. He has seen the generosity Treasure State citizens have offered in the past. This time around, he is witnessing that kindness firsthand. "The support Robert and his family have received from not only the community of Belt, but the state of Montana, shows how caring and generous the people are," Graham said. Graham told me Robert is "really improving" as he and his family continue to fight for his health. As of this post, nearly $18,000 had been raised through the Go Fund Me account in Robert's honor. $270 were donated as I was writing this post. There is no doubt more Montanans will continue to share in any way they can. There's no place like home. Fallon and I have become temporary Tucsonans following our move to the southwest. Montana will always be our home, but we have grown accustomed to life in the desert. Much like Big Sky Country, people here are more than willing to help their neighbor in need. I recently had the honor of sharing a story about The Care Project. The non-profit organization is fairly new and was jump-started in honor of 11-year-old Matthew Care who is battling leukemia. As the Care family began dozens of trips to and from the hospital, Arizonans were quick to lend a helping hand. "They had their air conditioning go out," explained cousin John Waldrop, "and a couple days before Christmas they woke up to a truck out front replacing their AC. They had no idea who it was but they thought, 'you know what? That's what we want to do.'" The Care Project raises money to assist families facing similar childhood cancers. The donations help with more than hospital bills. They benefit the every day costs the families can't devote as much time toward. Like the support for the Back family in Montana, the generosity for the Care family has spread throughout southern Arizona. Home may not be the most exciting place. It may not be the wealthiest or boast the best scenery. But if you needed a helping hand, odds are your friends and neighbors would be there no questions asked. Perhaps your future plans do not include your hometown and that's okay too. But don't take it for granted. There truly is no place like it. Make sure to follow Richie on Twitter, like his page on Facebook and subscribe to his YouTube feed.
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AuthorRichie is a small-town boy chasing big-city dreams. When he's not involved with sports, he's spending time with his wife, Fallon; their yorkie, Tinker; and their Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rosie. Archives
April 2016
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