Thirty Year Thursday: Tommy Rivers
To celebrate our thirtieth year anniversary, we’re interviewing a friend of Midtown Assistance Center each Thursday for thirty weeks as part of a series call “Thirty Year Thursday.” This week, we interviewed Tommy Rivers, current MAC staff member and musician, as well as former realtor, indie record company owner, and MAC clothing closet volunteer.
How did you first find out about MAC?
By accident, actually. I grew up in the Inman Park neighborhood, and my family was very involved in social service work over there. My parents are from Inman Park, and my mother played a central role in the church and in looking after the neighborhood. Many of the older houses in the neighborhood became rooming houses, and she set up an assistance program in the basement of the church. I don’t think she realized how involved she would get, but they bought her a station wagon to drive people to job interviews. Over time, she helped build the community through breakfasts and assistance and turned the neighborhood around. Because of the way the Methodist Church is divided into districts and because of the interstate, I didn’t really know about anything near MAC.
A few years ago, I started looking into AARP’s programing for senior citizens wanting to go back to work, and I wanted to do something different from the work I had been doing. AARP sends seniors to “host agencies” like Midtown Assistance Center. Even though I had not heard of MAC before, my aunt had been a member at the church for five years, so I had a connection without even realizing it.
What initially drew you to MAC?
Once I realized what was going on here, it felt a little like deja-vu. It was very similar to my family’s work where I grew up. It felt somehow ordained.
What kept you at MAC?
The involvement with the clients and their stories. I really get to know their situations and struggles. It can be very sad, but it also can be exhilarating. Many people would slip through the cracks if not for MAC. MAC also really takes it to a whole new level with the way it was formed—so many congregations coming together to meet a need.
Tommy posing next to his head shot at Mary Mac’s Tea Room.
What have you learned through your experience with MAC?
It has heightened my sense of what it means to be a good listener. Really listening can change someone’s day from bad to good and can help some of our clients who are teetering on the edge in a crisis situation.
Do you have a favorite story from your time at MAC?
There are many. I do remember one client case that I got involved in. The client was experiencing mental illness, and her situation was pretty out of control when we first started helping her. We had to see her at the door because she couldn’t be around other clients, and we helped her with what we could. She received mental health help and transformed into a perfectly well-balanced individual. She is bright, witty, and has a great vocabulary. Sometimes she will call just to say hello or get help with some food. That is one of my favorite stories.