Clare Keating

My name is Randal Harrington. I am a father of 3 beautiful little girls. I am 43 years old.

I come from a large family who has also grown up here in the city. I work at the paper company

down the road. Currently, our company is experiencing many layoffs. I am watching my friend,

my coworkers and my own brothers and sisters go from a secure life, to now not knowing if they

will be able to eat tomorrow. The Great Depression feels like a wet blanket has been laid over

the entire city. A lot of my neighbors have moved away due to losses their jobs and not having

the money to pay for rent. I am truly depressed. My children are slowly noticing that things are

different. We no longer go to the store on Fridays to share a coke. We also didn’t have enough

money to buy my boy shoes for soccer season.

The work place is sad. A lot of empty desks. My job has now tripled due to less people at

work now. I now have to write multiple columns and approve and make corrections myself.

Socially, no one really talks besides small talk. If there is communication, it is always on the

topic of the last person who was let go or the fear of who was next. I am treated well by my

family. My friends who lost their jobs don’t socialize with me as much anymore. I believe it is

because they are embarrassed about not having a job to take care of their families. It’s not their

fault. We are all experiencing a hard time. Everyone’s situation is different which i understand. It

must be so hard for those people. I want to help them, but financially I need everything I make to

take care of my three children and my wife.

What happens if I lose my job next? What will my children think of me? Will I have to

move my family to a new place? It’s scary never really knowing if you’re safe. Job security is

nonexistent. When will this all end? I want everything to go back to normal. I do not want to

raise my kids in such a depressing and scarce time. They do not deserve that.