What seems like a lifetime ago, but has been less than a year, the Golden LEAF Foundation came to Anson County and began a community-wide process of identifying needs to address with a potential $2 million set aside for us. I attended the first and subsequent meetings, with many others who wrestled with how to spend these dollars in order to have the greatest impact, move the needle, so to speak. The goal was to determine how we might best use this opportunity for Anson County within the boundaries established by the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Two million dollars is a lot of money. However, for a county like Anson, whose needs are many, we soon discovered it wouldn’t stretch as far as we hoped.

That presented an obstacle and an opportunity. The obstacle was we could not meet every need. The opportunity was to come together to find consensus, a sense of unity, as we sought the best interests of Anson County. That meant that some noble ideas, personal projects or agendas had to be set aside for the good of the group. It meant we had to trust each other, work together and support an idea that might not have been our choice because it was the group’s choice. That is hard work.

Our human nature, our inclination is for our own self-interest. Ignorance or arrogance can only see its point of view; a pledge to the common good demands humility and knowledge. To seek the best interest of all over one’s own interest, relies on the integrity of the group as a whole and each person in it and to the larger picture and not one’s personal photo album.

Leadership from the Golden LEAF came to Anson County on many occasions to facilitate this process. The priorities of education, quality of life and workforce development topped the list. Proposals were solicited from the community and a steering team representing a wide range of the community identified projects. Grants were written and suggested revisions to each came from the steering committee and from Golden LEAF. Two weeks ago, a presenter from each project met with members of the Golden LEAF Board in Rocky Mount to briefly present their project and answer questions about it. In early June the Golden LEAF board will meet to determine what projects will receive funding. Until then, we wait, hope and pray.

Grants for selected projects will certainly make a difference in Anson County. Lives will be impacted by the projects this money will help make possible. However, the most significant possibility that might come from this process is not $2 million.

The process designed by Golden LEAF has allowed us to bring a whole community to the table of discussion and decision. We have an opportunity to begin to address the obstacles, challenges, possibilities and potential in Anson County as a team. A good team will beat a group of good players any day. Two million dollars will only go so far. A people who are committed to work together for their community— well, that is priceless.

A newspaper in a city nearby has a call-in comment line. I read it with some regularity. Recently one caller said, “Yes we can but no we won’t.” I concluded the caller was making reference to the slogan used by President Obama— perhaps some kind of political protest statement. It reminded me of a quote from my father: “Can’t never can and won’t never will.”

When I consider the opportunity to come together as a people, a community, not just a group of individuals promoting their own agendas, who are seeking to work together for the good of the community, it is exciting. During this process guided by Golden LEAF, I saw a diverse mix of folks living out, “Yes we can. Yes we will.”

No one knows right now what might come our way from the Golden LEAF. I am confident we will be given stewardship over some money with which to help our community. We will count our blessings and give thanks for the gift. However, I can tell you now: we will not get enough to do all that is needed here. Maybe additional partners will come our way to assist us with resources. It will never be enough, but that is not the real question. The real question is, “Are we enough?” I believe we are. I believe we can.

Rob Rollins lives in Wadesboro.