Live. Work. Belong. — Labor. Will. Breakthrough.
Our weekly blog posts were made to explore different areas of our mission: specifically, Live. Work. and Belong. Over the last 2 weeks, we were reminded of the challenging realities involved in those 3 simple, yet deep words. Recently, we faced a setback when a long time neighbor of ours, who was on the brink of finally moving into a new apartment, encountered unforeseen issues that caused him to lose the opportunity. Moments like that are tough, and although we wish it never happened, it reflects the unpredictable nature of working with people.
The path to meaningful employment for those who face significant barriers is also rarely smooth, and Good Soil Industries, our social enterprise, also faced some challenges recently. GSI, which employs individuals who are hard to hire, has been and currently is in full swing. With over 100 contracted properties ranging from small front yards to church campuses and hospitals, there is always work to be done.
However, summer brings its own set of challenges, especially for blue (green?) collar workers. On one recent Monday, only our two route managers and one participant showed up to work. This trio had to handle the workload of ten people, and despite the heat and heavy load, they pushed through and completed the tasks late into their day. The following day, the situation repeated itself. Our employment case manager George and GSI Director Gene worked tirelessly to get all of KCB on the recruiting trail with a goal of hiring new participants to support our dedicated team. Everyone from the front office staff to the Executive Director began looking for people, and within a week, the program’s numbers were back up to seven participants and two route managers, with the final spot nearly filled.
These experiences highlight the resilience that’s needed in this line of work. It’s a testament to the dedication of our team and the importance of providing second chances. Everyone makes mistakes, and setbacks are part of the journey. What matters is our response—showing up, working hard, and supporting each other through difficulties. Everyone deserves that chance.
We find the ability to do that by looking to our Lord. Just as we strive to support and uplift those we work with, Jesus’ love reminds us that we are all deserving of grace and redemption. His love is the ultimate second chance, and encourages us to extend that same grace to everyone we meet with, everyone we labor with, everyone we succeed with, and also, everyone we suffer setbacks with. Everyone belongs. And the will of the Father offers breakthrough for each and every one of us.