Decades revisited
Active state lawmaker says 2020 was tough on him and his business, yet new year offers hope
Longtime state Rep. Vernon Smith had high hopes for 2020 after spending a portion of 2019 sidelined from a surgery.
“It was a difficult year for me in 2019. I was looking for a much better year in 2020. 2020 started off good for me,” he said.
The legislative year was shaping up and planning was moving along for a number of the annual events he sponsors including the Bill Johnson Black Film Festival.
“When the pandemic hit, some of the things I thought I could do and catch up on were put in back field,” Smith, 76, said.
“I’m a very community-oriented person. All of my projects were either modified significantly or canceled,” Smith said.
The annual Back to School Jamboree, which draws about 2,000 youngsters had to be canceled. All of the events at Glen Theater in Gary from March through the end of the year were canceled. Refunds had to be made to all who reserve space. Youth in Smith’s mentorship program who work at the theater were unable to earn money since the venue had to be closed.
The annual Harvest Feast, which feeds the community and provides a praise service, was canceled. It would have been the 50th year for the event first established by his mother. The Christmas dinner he has hosted for more than three decades was canceled.
Smith, D-Gary, said the annual education banquet, which raises money for scholarships for area youth, was modified. Since the event could not safely be hosted in person, Smith said an appeal went out for donations for the scholarships.
“We are still going to be able to give out scholarships,” Smith said.
The annual penny drive, which funds food, clothing and toys for those in need, was another challenge. Smith said he worried he would not be able to provide the items that directly benefit local families in need for the holidays.
“Our penny drives … was very successful this year when we thought it would not be,” Smith said.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the public was not able to participate as much as usual. Instead, several businesses stepped up to help raise more money than the drives have ever raised. Normally the drive collects about a ton of pennies, which is equal to about $3,000, he said. This year the drives brought in 3 tons of pennies.
“That was the only thing that went extremely well,” Smith said.
The lack of events and committee meetings for the legislature left Smith with a lot of free time alone, something he said with which he struggled. He described the loss of activities as an emptiness.
“I’m a very social being. The stay-at-home (order) and the isolation was miserable for me,” Smith said. “I’m a person who needs people. I found it very trying.”
Smith said to beat the isolation he would get up and get dressed every day. Sometimes he would just get in his car and drive around, just to get out of the house. He also visited several of his favorite fruit stands. Smith said he practiced the health department guidelines for social distancing and mask wearing.
“I’m not a person who can stay at home,” Smith said.
An avid traveler, Smith said he found his travel plans sidelined by the pandemic.
“I do travel. I am fortunate and blessed to have been on five continents. All those trips have been canceled,” he said.
The pandemic also has taken on toll on his business, Beautiful Things, a gift shop that offers things like floral arrangements and Black art.
“My business has been just hanging on by the shoestring,” Smith said.
Smith said he is a little anxious about the coming legislative session and the many changes in place due to the pandemic. Legislators and their aides no longer will be housed in the same building. Legislators’ offices are about two blocks away from the Capitol building, which he fears will be a challenge. He also worries how the legislature will conduct the public hearings that are an integral part of the legislative process.
And then, some of his fellow legislators do not believe in wearing masks.
“It’s going to be a different, challenging session,” Smith said.
He is hopeful 2021 will be a better year. In politics he is hopeful officials will be able to put partisanship aside and work for the good of all constituents. Personally, he his hopeful the events he loves will be able to move forward. The film festival, which takes place the third week of February, will be virtual.
The other events take place later in the year, and he looks forward to being able to host them again.
“Hopefully we will have all our vaccinations completed and get this thing under control,” Smith said.
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