Community
The last Saturday of July was sunny and 90 degrees, feeling like there was plenty of summer and beach days left. Instead, Back-to-School parties in Mobile and Fairhope reminded us that the first day of school was nine days away for Mobile County and 17 days away for Baldwin County.
There were parties and giveaways of backpacks and uniforms. Free lunches and snow cones. There was love, hugs, art, and laughter.
There was community on both sides of the bay.
At Back to School with Red, White & Blue at Fairhope United Methodist Church, a water balloon fight between kids in bathing suits and the Fairhope Police Department turned into a water war. Officers in blue shirts that read "Community Service," dropped the water guns and dumped the tubs of cold water on dozens of kids. Taunting, squeals, and from-the-gut laughter came from both sides. Kids received free haircuts and sports physicals. Volunteers from the Rivertown Community Church, wearing t-shirts that said "We Are For Baldwin" grilled hamburgers and hotdogs. Hands of all colors and sizes were painted on a yellow mural thanking the Fairhope Police Department for putting on the summer party each year.
"We used bright colors because when we all come together to better the community, it's a swirl of vibrant, happy colors of service, gratitude, and love," said Nancy Raia, outreach director at the Eastern Shore Art Center who guided the mural. "We wrote 'Our Community' in the center of these hands."
At The Grounds in Mobile, Love U. Love U. Day united the community by helping students, families, and senior citizens. Tables were loaded with backpacks and bags of socks and shoes. dream Hungers gave away 12-piece dish sets and shower curtains curtains. Doctors gave medical exams and mechanics aired tires and replaced wiper fluid. Fried chicken, spaghetti, and red beans and rice were served for lunch. Love U. Love U. was on t-shirts and balloons. Faces were painted with hearts, and a sign at the entrance read "Loving across America."
Love U. Love U. stands for Love Unconditional and Love Unlimited.
“We started Love U. Love U. four years ago because of violence in our communities and racism on TV," founder Monique Rogers said. "Love lifts people higher. We have to combat our differences with love so we can appreciate someone else not looking like us, not worshipping like us, or not having the same economic status.
"There is such a stigma on Alabama; why can't we become the state that lifts each other with love?" she asked. "Our neighbors are everyone and it is time to take people off mute. With events like this, people of all races and religions come together and serve the least of us in our community.
Monique was once the 'least of us.' A teenage mother in Mobile, she started a janitorial service while working a full-time job to support her family. She now owns H & S Management Holding Company and uses her success to unify the city and show that rising up is possible
At a NASA booth, brothers Joseph and Darryl Gaines told about their engineering careers with the space agency. The brothers were raised by a single mother in the Baltimore projects and later Eight Mile. Their mother worked two jobs to support her family, and made education important. That education led to college and opportunity for both sons. Joseph's co-op in college turned into a career at NASA for 30 years and a job for his brother. Joseph still pinches himself that he gets to work there every day. Darryl is Assistant to the Center Director at the Stennis Space Center. Both said there is more to come from the space program.
"We are going back to the moon because we have a lot to learn and test out before we go to Mars," Joseph said. "We plan on having the first female land on the moon in 2024 and we will be living on the moon by 2028. We will go to Mars in our lifetime."
The brothers, also former football players, tell Mobile kids to dream big and that even a career in space is possible. Darryl started the Darryl Gaines Foundation to support kids in the projects where he and his brother grew up.
"I want to give kids hope," Darryl said. "I talk to hundreds of kids at a time. If I inspire one or two, that makes me happy. We need to let kids know there is more than what they see today and there is another way to be successful. Everyone capable and able needs to step up and step out. There are many successful people in Mobile. The 'Love U. Love U.' event was started by successful people in this city, and look at what they accomplished."
Monique also started Love U. Love U Day in Opelika and Birmingham, and said it is an honor to serve and love.
“A higher power gives us the opportunity to care for each other. We aren't going to let the government or anyone divide us," Monique said. "Today we had a love train, and everyone had to touch someone who was a different color than they were.
"Mobile Bay was once named the 'Bay of the Holy Spirit’,” she said. "That spirit will take the love from our bay to the rest of Alabama."
