McPherson High School
McPherson, Kansas
Teacher: Robin Long
Hometown Community
By: Austin Baker
12th Grade
What is a community? A community is the combination of physical attributes and residents. What will determine if someone wants to live in a certain community is the atmosphere of it. If there is trash and old, run-down houses and buildings all over, no one will want to live there. A select few may view the “abandoned” look as fun and interesting; however, that look is not warm and inviting. People do not usually visit a ghost-like town and yearn to settle down and raise their kids there.
I came from a little town that had a lot of dilapidated houses and buildings. Many like the town because of its small size; but, in all reality, it just was not the beautiful town everyone wants…to call home. When I lived there, I thought the town was perfect. I could run across the street to the field of grass and play football with my friends; I could ride my go-cart in my
backyard without neighborhood complaints; I could ride my bike to the dirt road at the end of town and still have the energy to make it back home. That’s ideal in any nine-year-old boy’s eyes. I [was] disappointed [when we] had to move to McPherson. I never understood why my parents loved this town so much, but as I get older, I realize why. McPherson is a clean, friendly, low crime town.
In McPherson there is very little litter and almost no run-down, abandoned houses. … I don’t think anyone in McPherson lets his or her grass get three inches long before cutting it. People continually fix their homes. There’s no such thing as broken windows and doors off their hinges. Families actually use their trash receptacles instead of the street for their garbage. Restaurants, convenience stores, and schools are all kept in a sanitary condition. Any home that does become abandoned is seized by the government and quickly turned into a place someone can call home.
McPherson also has several groups and organizations that aid in the cleanliness of the town. For example, there are church groups who walk ditches to pick up any excess waste. The Habitat for Humanity helps to ensure clean homes for people. This group leads me to my next discussion, friendliness.
McPherson contains some of the friendliest people [in the country]. While Habitat for Humanity makes certain that people have clean homes, they do this willingly. This town has several volunteer groups that make living more comfortable for many. One example is Save-n-Share. They sell discounted clothes, so everyone can afford a winter coat. Save-n-Share is a volunteer-run store that basically operates [like] a garage sale. The only difference lies in the fact that the workers are not earning any compensation. The money goes to a greater cause- helping those in need.
It wasn’t difficult for…my family to make new friends in this town. Everywhere any of us went, there was always someone who would talk to us. It’s not unusual to strike up a conversation with the door greeter at Wal-Mart or the teller at the bank. It happens naturally in a town like McPherson. This town also has community dinners on certain holidays for those who simply cannot provide themselves a special meal. Newcomers may notice that while driving down the street there are constantly people waving at you. In most towns, people don’t wave because they don’t know you. In McPherson, who you know doesn’t matter when it comes to a simple wave.
One may be wondering how the McPherson community affects me personally. I feel that the community of McPherson is close-knit because of its friendliness. I experience closeness of this community when someone you don’t know lends a helping hand or asks how your day is going. Citizens of McPherson are always thrilled to help one another. Whether it’s a school fundraiser or something as simple as an out-of-towner needing directions, one can bet on a McPherson resident to assist. No one has to worry about getting faulty assistance or being directed toward trouble in this town.
McPherson is definitely known for their low crime rate. The biggest crime here is probably writing an insufficient funds check. People in this town aren’t “out to get” one another. McPherson has an extremely intelligent police department. The officers are always friendly and keen on making sure all crime that can be stopped is stopped. McPherson schools have a great program called D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education). At a young age, children are taught about drug and alcohol abuse. They are taught what these addicting substances can do to their bodies and what will happen if caught with them. This program is very effective in helping children make wise decisions against drug - related crime. Many after school programs keep kids from wandering aimlessly until their parental guardians can supervise them. These types of programs ensure that children of McPherson grow up learning correct behavior while spending their time doing useful activities. These groups combined with law enforcement [ensure] that as little crime as possible goes on in McPherson.
So, am I still disappointed that we moved to McPherson? Not a chance. I’ve grown to appreciate the small things [in] this town. …It’s nice to be able to look out your window and see beautiful homes and yards. It’s enjoyable to know that someone will always be around to talk to. It’s comforting to know that the police department is doing all that’s feasible to stop crime…. McPherson is a gorgeous town that anyone would love to raise their children in and call home. Now that I’m an adult, I see why everyone wants to live in McPherson- it is perfect.