Belinda Kiser has a passion for many things in her life. Her writing and poetry bring great joy. But her most rewarding passion is the non-profit organization she created to save her hometown in Green Spring, WV. With goals to bring new commerce and economic growth to her community, she started the Green Spring Kitchen and Thrift. Part of this organization's mission is the advocacy work she does locally to help preserve the future of a local historical landmark that is a lifeline to her hometown. Her moto...Making Green Spring Better-One Step at a Time is the driving force that keeps Belinda striving to make changes that will enhance the local's lives of a dying Railroad community with a 200-year rich history. Her dream to see her community thriving is her main focus.
Belinda Sue Kiser, Founder And President
When I realize I knew I could make a difference, I never looked back.
I am happy to be able to introduce myself. My name is Belinda Kiser, and I am very honored to have this opportunity to be Executive Contributor for Brainz Magazine.
Who I am?
I am the President and Founder of the Green Spring Low Water Bridge Committee Inc. Which also sponsors the Green Spring Kitchen and Thrift. A non-profit organization trying to bring back economic growth to a dying railroad community in a rural part of the WV panhandle. Which just happens to be my hometown. With seven generations of family from these Appalachian Mountains. I am immensely proud of my heritage.
I recently retired to Green Spring WV and built a home here. I share it with two dogs, a few cats, several chickens, and an old African Gray parrot that makes my life full. I am working toward building a small homestead. My true passion is writing poetry. With two published books and a collection of over 350 poems which I share through my blog.
I enjoy writing about the stuff that makes life hard and how to overcome the daily struggles we all face on this journey. I also share through my poetry stories of people and events that have touched my heart. By sharing what I have learned through, Bits and Pieces of Life. I offer wisdom through my poetry that comes with real-life experiences we all can relate to. My writing, my art… gives my life purpose and helps me make my mark on this world.
My organization’s current goals.
Are building a Community Green House and General Market. We are so far away from needed essentials these two projects can kick start our economy, bring desperately needed commerce to a struggling community, and also provide needed resources we lack here. The Green Spring Kitchen supports a local food pantry, and we have our own immensely popular Green Spring Candy that helps bring in a steady stream of revenue. The Green Spring Thrift Store supports the community with needed new and used household items.
Overall, we hope all of this will kick-start us with more opportunities to build off the tourism that has been slowly growing with the summer river activities we have in the area. We cannot build off what we already lost, but we can thrive off what our best assets currently are and that is the tourism here. Our sweet spot in these mountains attracts people from all social classes and from far away.
What I see down the road as achievements in all this.
My aspirations are to one day see my hometown thrive in ways it has not since the early 1900s. We have a rich 200-year history that displays our strength and resilience which I crave to see preserved. We have a lot we can offer the world and saving its future is a way we can save its past. I think we all can relate to this and understand the need to save that part of our heritage.
This small town has a story to tell. Built on the American dream and arduous work. We may never be again what we were once, but that does not mean we need to just lay down and die. Green Spring has historical value that I believe is very much worth saving.
Who or what inspires me?
The true nature of the community, the area, and all we have lost here. Being born and raised in Green Spring WV and knowing its history you get a broader picture of what we have and what is possible. What inspires me is the energy of these Appalachian Mountains. The pure power of these wild rivers and the hardships we have faced over the last two hundred years. My research has revealed a very amazing community.
This area is uniquely beautiful and captures our true essence. I feel a need to tell our story, share our love for this area. So, we do not get lost, become forgotten, or before we die in such a way there is no turning back from our demise. This has become the true inspiration of why I do what I am doing. My focus is on our betterment.
What has been my greatest achievement thus far?
We are an exceedingly small community with a ridiculously small population. We have so little here. Last year the Green Spring Kitchen and Thrift sponsored Christmas in Green Spring. We supported seven young families, with eighteen children in all for Christmas and we have eleven families with the food pantry.
Our organization made sure they all had roasted chickens for their dinners, and each child's Christmas wish was granted. We were able to bring the community together and enrich these families with memories of a Christmas that was made better because of this organization. To see those kids' faces and know we made Christmas one to remember for these families during the Christmas season was my greatest achievement thus far. Easily.
The most pivotal moment that got me here.
I was researching Green Spring for a history book I wanted to write to help preserve our past for the future. Our town was dying, and I felt a need to try to help. I thought if I could document our past this would help us preserve what we once had.
When I started researching the history of our very own historical low water toll bridge. A bridge that was built for a WV town. I got a realization that I could not ignore. This interstate 85-year-old toll bridge is our lifeline for more reasons than I can count. It is who we are and why and it is regulated by a Maryland agency and privately owned, and we have no say over how it is managed.
The research I dug up on that bridge had the power to change everything for us here. At that very moment, I knew what had to happen. I created this organization and we set in motion actions that will ensure a future for that bridge and Green Spring. Which we were remarkably close to losing altogether. Any economic growth we worked toward would meet failure if we lost the bridge to neglect. After three years we finally got Maryland to notice our complaints.
I have documented a hundred-year history showing the direct influence this bridge has on our community. The condition of the town today is a direct influence from this toll bridge’s management. If we are to have better, we need better with the toll bridge and a better future from its management. Once that fact registered, it was like flipping a switch.
Our Future?
I see our future as strong. We are a community that has come back from many hardships. We have the strength to rebuild. But we are down to the bones of our community and to save us we need to get our message to the outside world.
So, I will reach out where I can. Talk about the importance of saving our past for our future. I will share our story with an audience when they listen. I will take one step at a time and keep a vision of a stronger community ahead.
Green Spring at one time was a remarkably busy railroad depot and our town had such promise. Especially during a time when the world was facing challenging economic times, Green Spring had a wealth that surpassed most townships in America before the 1930s. To see it today and knowing where it had come from, is just sad. It is even sadder it is my hometown.
When I realize I knew I could make a difference, I never looked back.
I am ready to take any consequences that come. I will focus my work toward our betterment one day at a time and soon the work I do now… Our future will get better.
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