President

Guest Column featuring Tim Baucom, CEO & President of Shaw Industries, Inc. and 2021 United Way Board Chair

“Successful Mothers are not the ones that have never struggled. They are the ones that never give up despite the struggles,” Author Sharon Jaynes. This is a powerful quote and one that reminds me that no matter how challenging the moments or days (or let’s be honest, COVID-19 has made it years) can be; it is perfectly okay to be imperfect. 

It’s hard to believe that we are still enduring these uncertain times. No one could have predicted that a pandemic would rise up and affect so many lives for this long. We are in uncharted waters as these circumstances continue to affect the globe, not just our community.

As I think of our community and our people, one word comes to mind -- compassionate.

To say 2020 was a tough year for everyone is an understatement. We have faced so much uncertainty and been challenged in unprecedented ways. No one has been immune from the far-reaching impacts of Covid-19.

2020 is a year we will never forget. At the beginning of the year, none of us were prepared for what we would confront. No one knew how many in our community would need our help. We have all faced challenges we never expected, overcome odds stacked against us, learned things we could not have imagined, and banded together on a scale we never thought possible.

As we enter a new season and prepare for the Thanksgiving holidays, much has changed since last year.  In fact, it seems nothing is the same.  We all face many uncertainties, but for many in our community who already faced challenges meeting basic needs for themselves and their families, the stress and anxiety produced by the pandemic can seem insurmountable at times.

As the leaves turn glowing shades of autumn and the temperature reaches perfect outdoor weather for us to enjoy what fall in the south means, I take in all the beauty of Northwest Georgia.  However, once again, I remind myself that as we transition to another season, we are still in a global pandemic and all the challenges that go with it.