Cheboygan Main Street: A giving, kind, community
Have you ever noticed what a kind and giving community we live in? Little Cheboygan, a town of fewer than 5,000 people, home to a Coast Guard Cutter for more than 75 years, home to winning high school sports teams, home to the Inland Waterways. It is not a wealthy city by any means ... especially if you measure wealth by average household income. You must also consider Cheboygan’s wealth by the generosity of everyone in this town.
Wealth and fulfillment has many forms. People consider riches — bank accounts — yachts, pontoons, fishing boats, beautiful historic homes and double-wides — and tiny bungalows ... families raised here their entire lives, and families that moved back after leaving Cheboygan ... only to come back to where they feel the heart of our city. How do you measure that in dollars and cents? You don’t. It’s a feeling and yearning that many people felt, some never had, and others ache to find.
In the midst of our beautiful town, with the river flowing through the heart of downtown, we have events, fairs, music, churches, restaurants, an historic movie theater, a city beach, a lighthouse that still guides boaters, a children’s trail that is ever-growing, sport fields and loving, caring people.
Some of our citizens struggle financially and others make a good living. But I have never in all my life seen a town more willing to give, contribute, help their neighbors, and share what they have when someone is down and out. Community support steps in, whether it’s helping a family pick up the pieces after a devastating fire or help someone who is hurting following a tragic death.
If my neighbor has one potato — they will give me half; one chicken — half; one quart of milk — half (if not all). Our people just do it! They step up and support each other.
I just think it’s important in this crazy divided world we seem to be stuck in that we remember who we are, what Cheboygan is all about, and the kindness that is shown on a regular basis — unprovoked or requested — it’s just always there!
— Diane Raab is a member of City Council, Past President of Rotary, Ambassador with the Chamber of Commerce, Commodore of the Cheboygan Yacht Club, and a serial volunteer with many city committees (too many to name – I’m retired, after all!).
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Cheboygan Main Street: A giving, kind, community
