WE USUALLY WAIT until Friday to give out pats on the back. But we just couldn’t wait a day longer to thank the supporters of The Little Train.
Last January, the miniature train appeared to be in desperate straits. Without at least $20,000 for major repairs, Sertoma Club members said, the next summer would probably be its last.
They appealed to the community for help. The community responded — and how!
As of Tuesday morning, a total of $29,600 ha been raised and donations are still pouring in. On Wednesday, the Emporia City Commission added its own check to the pile, contributing $2,500 from the special park fund.
Money has come in from schools, from civic clubs, from individuals. These days, the question is not whether the train will have the support it needs but how much extra support it will have once everyone finished voting with their wallets. Organizers have already set a new goal of $40,000 and seem to be closing in on it rapidly.
It’s a wonderful sight. It shows the power of Emporia as a community. And it shows that Emporians can still come together to protect the things they care about.
That spirit is nothing new in Emporia’s 150-year history. But it’s good to see that it remains strong.
This truly is the Little Town That Could.
We think we can, we think we can, we think we can ....