Second blow tests Perry
April 22, 2024
PERRY – To say that 2024 has been a tough year for Perry would be an understatement.
Rocked by a shooting at Perry High School on Jan. 4, this Dallas County community of 7,500 is now dealing with the closure of the Tyson Foods pork processing plant. This second blow in just three months is expected to put nearly 1,300 people out of work on June 28.
St. Patrick Parish in Perry stepped up in January with prayer and presence, as well as resources like counseling. Father Litto Thomas said they are prepared to do it again as the church community and community at large try to figure out what comes next.
“Sometimes we only think about the negative things that happen, but God can bring good from evil. The good we see is that the community is stronger,” he said.
“Everyone is worried about their neighbor. They ask, ‘How are you doing? Did you find a job?’ They are talking to one another and there is more caring,” Father Thomas explained. “The community is more united.”
Coping skills developed
St. Patrick parishioners honed their coping skills after the shooting at Perry High School, which happened the day students returned from their Christmas break.
The parish responded with a rosary for the whole town and special blessings for first responders, teachers, students and their parents at Masses. Mental health resources were made available and a second collection was taken at Mass to support the victims and their families.
Then, it was announced on March 11 that Tyson, one of the region’s major employers, was closing the Perry facility, said Father Thomas.
Identifying those in need
Father Thomas has been told that roughly half of the 1,276 people who will lose their jobs are from the Des Moines area. Many of those from the Perry area, especially those who belong to St. Patrick Parish, are Hispanic.
The implications of the closing will become apparent in the coming years, he said.
Some have worked at Tyson for 20 or 30 years. For some families the hardship will be compounded because both husband and wife are employed there.
Father Thomas said people are opting to work until the plant closes on June 28. After that, some will apply for unemployment benefits as they search for a new job, while others may take their job hunt to California or Florida, where they have extended family.
“Right now, the city is organizing job fairs, so one thing I have asked the parishioners to do is share job opportunities,” he said. That is done in the parish bulletin and on St. Patrick’s Facebook page, as well as their WhatsApp group.
By helping people find jobs and stay in Perry, it also helps the businesses in town who depend on revenue from gas sold and groceries purchased, among other things, Father Thomas said.
In addition, his goal is to identify families who need immediate care.
“Here at the parish, we have Knights of Columbus, Regina Guild and St. Vincent de Paul, so if they need support – buying groceries and meeting their needs – we try to provide them,” he said.
Resources needed
Another avenue of support at St. Patrick is the Hispanic Leadership Team, which works to make certain the Spanish-speaking community is “vibrant and active” there. Enrique Cruz, a member of the team, said the group planned to meet on April 12.
Language is a major concern, he said.
“You’re looking at a lot of people who do not have enough English to communicate, so the resources are limited for them,” Cruz said.
In addition, they may not have access to a computer or the necessary skills to apply for jobs online, which is required more and more.
“Do we use the school equipment – computers – to host a day for a job fair, but also a day that you can apply,” Cruz said. “Or finding someone who can help you with your resume, create a resume, or helping with your interviews. I think that’s very important.”
A moment of trust
PerryNext, a group of businesses and organizations held the first of several planned job fairs in Perry on April 3. In a video greeting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh said it was more than a job fair, however.
“It is a beacon of hope and testament to the resilience of our great city,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to find new employment, polishing their existing skills, or exploring new training avenues.”
Cavanaugh added that a team is “working very hard” to find someone to take over the Tyson plant.
“This is a moment of trust – trusting the Lord,” Father Thomas said. He also expressed gratitude to the larger community, including the Diocese of Des Moines, for their care and concern.
“As St. Paul would say, ‘We are the body of Christ. When part of the body suffers, the whole body suffers,” Father Thomas said. “So we truly experience that support. We truly experience that we are one family, with support from the Diocese, and with the help of other parishes, as well.”
Those would like to assist people with job applications, creating resumes or job coaching can reach Cruz at 515-771-6212 after 3 p.m. Anyone who knows of job openings may call the parish office at 515-465-4387.