144 Boxes

144 boxes of what, you ask? Food. Food for those who cannot get it themselves.

But why 144? A perfect square of 12. Perfect. A perfect number. A number that can change 144 lives. A number that can have many meanings.

144 minutes a person can spend doing something else for others.
144 extra steps taken each day for ones health.
144 cents donated to help someone or something in need.

But why help someone else? What has some stranger done to deserve your time? Your money? Your energy? They’re human. And every person deserves a chance.

Walk down the streets of Detroit. Any street. Chances are you will see a homeless man/woman. Why are they homeless? Not because they didn’t work hard enough. Not because they deserve it. It is because they were dealt a bad hand and this is what their life has come to.

That is not to say that every single homeless person has a heart of gold. There are ugly crayons in every box, but would you throw away a pack of crayons because of a few bad colors? No, you try to use them to create a beautiful picture.
And you use every skill you have to make every single crayon a vital part of your picture. From the shiny gold to the orchids to the burnt orange.

These our people in OUR community. In OUR city.  It’s time to start lending a hand to help ourselves up, because no one else will. We’re Detroiters. We’re known for being hard workers.  Detroit is an attitude.  Embrace it. Show everyone what the D is all about.  We ARE a force to be reckoned with. 

So what can 3 hours at Gleaners Food Bank accomplish?

144 Boxes.

Your Fellow Detroiters,

Faygo & Towne Club

The River Walk

Do you see what I see? Does she see what he sees? Can any two people see the same thing? Probably not, but we can get close.

There are people who see Detroit as bright and shiny. A place full of life, colors, and amazing things.

There are people who see Detroit as a giant wasteland. A place to burn down and start over.

Then there are the realists. Those who know that Detroit is not the flourishing city it once was. Who also know it is coming back. The colors are saturating the streets and buildings once again. The smog is lifting out of the air and the river is flowing clearer. 

More and more people are flocking to the riverwalk during their lunch hour. A great place to break up the monotony of the work life. A place to take a deep breath and smell the fresh air, to fish for pleasure or dinner.

The Riverwalk is one of the more concentrated melting pots of Detroit. It is a place where the overtly positive, overtly negative, and those who see both sides come together and share one of the cleanest places available to Detroiters.

So when you need somewhere to go where it doesn't matter who you are or where you came from, take a trip to the riverfront. Whether you are a glass half-full person, glass half-empty person or see the glass as having something in it regardless of the amount, the river front is a place to see all three.

Your Fellow Detroiters,

Faygo and Towne Club

Welcome to Detroit

A place people call home. A city made of hard workers and go-getters. A place of hope.

However, it is not always seen this way. It is seen as a war zone; a place not even to visit; a city of failure. Few people see the good that comes from this city; the beautiful museums; the world class orchestra; the championship worthy teams.  The on-looking eyes need to be redirected.  From the blight to the breathtaking.  From the abandoned buildings to the gems. 

What do you think.....

Detroit as this?

Or this?

Whichever you think, know this...

"It is worth remembering that the Roman Empire is gone, but we still have Romans. And they wear nice shoes, look at good art and drink coffee all day" (LeDuff).

Detroit was a great city, and can be again. We are on the precipice of a revolution. We have the opportunity to be a part of it; let's not let it pass by. 

Your Fellow Detroiters,

Faygo and Towne Club

LeDuff, Charlie. "Detroit Is Still a PLace I Love." MyFOXDetroit | FOX 2 News | WJBK. Fox 2 News, 22 Apr. 2011. Web. 13 June 2011. <http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/detroit/detroit-is-still-a-place-i-love>.