You would be hard-pressed to find a family who has not been directly affected by the current economic downturn. Predictably, most of us are re-evaluating our personal priorities and finances. It is natural to turn inwards at such times. However, our community is continuing to reach out to support those in greater need than ourselves. We collectively are investing through the United Way which has surpassed its goal for this year-$5.3 million in pledges.

Recently the affordable housing fundraising campaign was launched in Waterloo. There are public meetings on the Four Churches Project in Kitchener's core to develop more affordable and social housing. Our church is actively involved in the potato drive for the House of Friendship. This year's goal is 165,000 pounds of potatoes.

In his 2009 State of the City address, Mayor Carl Zehr spoke of the need for vision in times of adversity. I believe that the current economic downturn will result in a restructuring of our economy as significant as the changes wrought during the industrial revolution. Growth in the high tech sector and innovation are not the entire answer but along with a reorganized manufacturing sector, Waterloo Region and Canada will emerge stronger and more competitive than we have been for decades.

Certainly, there is real suffering in our community as we struggle with the changes in the manufacturing sector. Even if we get most of the "what to do" right, it will take longer than anyone thinks is tolerable for our economy to begin its long climb upward. However, with innovative ideas, vision and investment by us in each other, we will come out a stronger community.