If you haven't read it yet, you should check out Catherine Kavanaugh's story on Robinson Industries Inc., a thermoforming company that is receiving help from current and former employees, the local community and even competitors following a fire that destroyed much of its main production plant in Coleman, Mich.
Just before 5:30 a.m. on March 31, melting plastic from a machine touched off a blaze that would need assistance from 20 neighboring fire departments to finally put out. Even before the fire was completely out, the family-owned business was making plans on how to rebuild while getting offers of help.
"Competitors are giving us their machine time to produce our pallets, shipping trays and other products. That's generous," Marketing Manager Ronda Robinson told Catherine. "We're talking to them individually."
At the same time, officials from Coleman — population 1,200 — plus officials from nearby communities, Robinson Industry suppliers, construction workers and even retirees are asking what they can do.
"It's like how we felt after 9/11," Ronda Robinson said. "People pulled together. It's that kind of a feeling."