First response

Lutheran, The, Nov 2003 by Sigmon, Ellen

Church serves those unemployed by Pillowtex Corp.layoff, the largest in N.C. history

Patsy Harrison sits at the window of her father's house with her 2-year-old grandson, Brandon, who waits with great excitement for the garbage truck to pass by. Brandon is recovering from an ear infection, and Harrison's father is recuperating from two small strokes that have affected his balance.

"My dad was saying what a terrible time he picked to get sick," she says, "but I said, 'I don't have a job. This was a good time.'"

Harrison and her husband, Larry, both lost their jobs with the closing and bankruptcy of Pillowtex Corp. in July-the largest permanent layoff in North Carolina history. They, along with 4,340 others in Cabarrus and Rowan counties, find themselves facing a future with no health insurance, no severance or vacation pay, and limited prospects for future employment.

Yet Patsy Harrison says she and her husband are among the lucky ones. "My husband's employees had been out of work for about seven weeks before this happened, so they were already behind on bills," she said. Her husband had been a shift supervisor in the yarn and dye department, and she worked in order processing in the customer service department. For more than 30 years, they had worked at the textile company.

"When we got laid off, it was just devastating," she said. "Up until then, we thought the company was going to be sold. That's what's happened before." Pillowtex Corp. was formerly Fieldcrest Cannon, and before that, Cannon Mills, which was founded in 1887.

"The company is just the center of Kannapolis. It's just the town," she added.

Church as first responder

The town and community responded. Churches and businesses in the area and statewide took offerings of money, food and school supplies to help the laid-off workers and their families.

In the past, the Salvation Army had started its Angel Tree program in November, but this year began signups in September, anticipating an increased demand. The program connects sponsors with children to make sure they receive Christmas gifts.

Patsy Harrison was impressed with the response and thankful for her congregation, New Hope Lutheran in Kannapolis. Five members lost their jobs. "The pastor (Marcus Hovis) has visited each of us to let us know that they are there to help," she said. "It makes you feel really good to have your church behind you."

The Harrisons also received a phone call offering help from Richard Rhoades, pastor of Kimball Memorial Lutheran Church in downtown Kannapolis. Patsy Harrison's parents are members ofthat church, which has been the center of activity in Cabarrus County since the layoffs occurred.

Kimball Memorial's fellowship hall was converted into the Community Service Center for the county.

On the day after the announced layoffs, volunteers started to transform the fellowship hall. A network of 13 computers and an independent telephone system were installed, providing areas for 13 agencies to meet with displaced workers. The agencies include the Department of Social Services, United Way, Consumer Credit Counseling, Cabarrus County Cooperative Christian Ministry and Salvation Army.

The Harrisons and 1,258 others attended information sessions the following week in Kimball Memorial's sanctuary. During all of this, church volunteers made signs, directed parking, set up tables and chairs, provided refreshments, answered phones and greeted people at the doors. "Members here see it simply as doing what we are supposed to be doing-serving, caring, loving, walking with others, sharing Christ on the journey," Rhoades said.

Layoff causes national stir

After Pillowtex closed, "we were inundated with politicians and media," Rhoades said. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley, and state and local politicians came to Kimball Memorial in mid-August to announce two national emergency grants totaling $20.6 million. The grants will help displaced workers retrain and find other jobs. It also will assist them in paying health-insurance premiums.

Rhoades said things have settled down, but the Community Service Center still operates in the fellowship hall, with agency representatives seeing 30 to 50 people a day. Church volunteers continue to provide hospitality for laid-off workers and agency representatives.

The church initially committed its facilities for two months, but Rhoades said the agencies would probably be there longer, as more and more displaced workers go into financial crisis. "Many mill workers have never interviewed anywhere, never created a resume, never considered another field," he said. "The mill had just always been and would always be. We're willing to let [the agencies] stay as long as the need is there."

Rhoades requested help from and received $5,000 in domestic disaster response funds from the North Carolina Synod. This money helped Cooperative Christian Ministry in Cabarrus County start an emergency food bank in downtown Kannapolis for former Pillowtex employees. The synod also sent $3,000 to Rowan [County] Helping Ministries for the same purpose. Rhoades said he received donations to his discretionary fund from other Lutheran congregations in North Carolina as well as pastoral care from area clergy to workers during the first few weeks. "We've truly felt embraced by the churches in the synod," he said.