“The Caroline Way”

Something that Caroline Review and Caroline Review.News has strived to do over the last several years is showcase the plentiful philanthropists that call Caroline County home. Whether it be business owners, non-profit organizations, or regular folks trying to make a difference, there is certainly something to be said about our county’s culture of giving. But a major caveat to covering these stories is that many do-gooders do not wish to be recognized. So, this article is a tribute to those souls.

Current County Commissioner Larry Porter calls this phenomenon “the Caroline Way”, “which means you try every way possible to help people in time of need,” he explained. I asked Porter and a handful of additional community leaders with firsthand knowledge to talk more about their experiences with the Caroline Way: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Derek Simmons, Preston Town Manager Amber Korell, and supporter of various non-profit organizations Victor Reynolds. Each of them agreed that Caroline County has this “baked in” desire to help, and were kind enough to share their personal musings on the subject.

“Caroline County has a very real tradition of helping, but I think what makes it special is that a lot of it happens quietly. People do not always want their name attached to it. They just see a need and step in,” Reynolds said.

But where does this come from? “Our county has been able to retain its sense of community despite the pace of change both inside and outside the county. Perhaps it comes from our connections to faith - Caroline County has a strong Methodist tradition, as well as other denominations,” Dr. Simmons noted, “There is an inherent sense of taking care of those in need around you…I think of the biblical passage about the woman of limited means who gave to the offering what could be perceived as a small token, but to her was much. That gift came from the heart. That is many in Caroline County. ” Korell said she can’t pinpoint one singular reason, but “ some of our people are born with it and pass it on to new generations. We learn from watching and engaging with these personalities. That feel-good feeling you get from helping someone, it's contagious,” she said.

Porter said he believes that the tradition started early on with the large population of farmers in the area, “I think the sense of helping comes from our agricultural background. Throughout my life I have seen farmers show up to help another farmer in need of help and refuse to take any payment. Just an understanding that the tradition will be carried on.” Reynolds referenced a broadened version of that original foundation of Caroline County, saying, “I think part of that comes from the reality of living in a smaller rural county. Caroline has just over 34,000 residents, so we are not working with the same population base, tax base, or resources that larger counties have. That means when there is a gap, people often fill it themselves…A neighbor gives someone a ride. A church helps with food. A business donates what it can to local causes. A volunteer gives up an evening. A farmer, teacher, coach, nonprofit worker, or small business owner quietly does what needs to be done.”

Regardless of how we got to be so blessed, each of these representatives can personally attest to the culture of giving without seeking recognition. While some have transplanted from larger areas and others have been here seemingly forever, everyone has a story.

“I am from Caroline County, born and raised and stayed. I put my own roots down and made a home for me and my family here,” Korell said. She recalled a time when she was a new mom, navigating the demands of motherhood along with medical issues and familial tiffs, “Someone I had met in my line of work from issuing building permits and had general office conversations with, we bonded over similar family drama him and his wife had went through. One day I got a card in the mail from him and his wife and $500 cash in it for me and my family. This was an immense help and took so much burden and weight off my shoulders,” she said, “I was in awe of their kindness and the fact they had no ties to me and didn't need to help at all.”

Porter reflected on the example his mother set while he was growing up in Greensboro, “during a time when everyone helped everyone.” He called his mom “United Way and Social Services rolled into one.” “If you needed help she would come up with what you needed and go away quietly,” he said.

“I am not originally from Caroline County,” Reynolds said, “I am from Prince George’s County, but I have lived in Caroline County for about 15 years now. I came here with an outside perspective, but over time, this place became home. One of the first things I noticed was how personal help feels here. In a larger area, support can sometimes feel more formal or institutional. In Caroline County, it can be as simple as someone saying, ‘I’ll take you’ because they know not everyone has reliable transportation. I have had people offer me access to land for hunting so I could bring home food. I have had someone invite me into their home the minute I met them, make me sweet tea, and tell me about the community and why it was such a good place to live. I remember a meat department worker at a local store putting his hand on my shoulder, asking if I needed anything cut, and then taking the time to educate me on different cuts of meat. He did not have to do that…He did it because he wanted me to have a good cookout and joked that I better invite him next time.”

Reynolds said he sees the most good through his work with CASA of Caroline, “Part of my job involves looking through donor records, and that gave me a deeper appreciation for how much quiet generosity exists in this county. I started noticing the local trusts, foundations, and community-run organizations that help distribute funds and grants to nonprofits across Caroline County each year. I also saw anonymous donors who did not want public recognition but were still willing to financially support our events and programs.”

While he is not originally from her, Dr. Simmons has called Caroline home for over 20 years. He said he has always heard that giving can come in the form of “time, talent, and treasures”, and Caroline County is heavy on all three. “I have found that if you ask, people will support. They will give of their time to volunteer, they will share a skill they have with a fellow neighbor in need, and for those who can give financially, they do…They are doing the work because they believe in it, believe in our community, and believe that this is just what you do for your neighbor.” “The first time I noticed the silent giving was when tragedy struck a family in the community by way of a fire. Before anyone organized an ask, we had people calling and offering furniture, clothes, money, gift cards, and anything else that could be needed. These offers came from across the spectrum of Caroline residents…those with more financial means, as well as those not as blessed with fiscal resources. The point was…we help. Someone is hurting, so we help.”

This is all not to say that Caroline County has not experienced its fair share of change in both landscape and culture over the decades. Porter said that he has seen subtle change in how businesses and individuals approach volunteer work. “I think things have changed due to human nature. It used to be that businesses, for example, would allow employees to leave for fire calls if they were volunteer firefighters. Today, most employers require people to work and the volunteers are required responders on their own time,” he said.

Reynolds shared his musings on how the growth of Caroline’s highway businesses have shaped the county, but also how they’ve assimilated into the small town mentality, “Route 404 and beach traffic have changed the way people pass through this area. That traffic can bring opportunity, but it can also shift attention away from smaller local businesses and toward larger companies that can afford highway frontage, big signage, and fast-service models,” he said, “But even then…a fast-food restaurant here is not always ‘just a chain.’ It may be staffed by local teens getting their first job, parents working extra hours, or managers trying to give young people a place to learn responsibility while they continue through school.”

Not only do our roadsides look different, the people who live between them look different too. “Caroline County is also unique because it is a long county, and the northern and southern ends can feel very different from one another…North county has a strong Hispanic community, while parts of south county have a growing Haitian Creole-speaking community. Those differences shape the needs of each area, from language access and transportation to schools, churches, businesses, and outreach.”

Reynolds equates the dynamic of living in Caroline County to the best and worst parts of having a best friend, “Caroline County is not perfect, but it is real and in a lot of ways… People here work hard, they pay attention, and they remember how you treat others. It is still the kind of place where people know what you are doing, what you have done, and whether you are showing up for the community in a genuine way…real friends will also kick your butt when you're being out of line and not sugar coat everything for you.”

Despite these changes and challenges, “Caroline has been able to retain the core of helping your fellow neighbor. At a time when selected isolation has exploded in the greater society, we have been able to retain the importance of community. Our folks are better because of it,” Dr. Simmons said. Porter added that “it is the essence of who we are, to not only know and care about each other, but know families and past generations. To be able to celebrate our history and mutual heritage is vital to us as a county.”