What I learned today at the Dan Moody Museum: "NO ONE WILL EVER STARVE IN TAYLOR!"

January is National Poverty Awareness Month, a time to remember both the challenges faced by our neighbors and the long tradition of caring that defines our community.

Nearly 100 years ago, when the Great Depression struck Taylor in 1931, local businesses failed and many families struggled to make ends meet. In response, SPEEGLE GROCERY — located at 107 North Main Street — opened a free soup line, offering soup, crackers, and water to all comers. On the very first day, about fifty people were fed, and the grocer declared, “no one will ever starve in Taylor.” The effort helped neighbors through hard times with the service later administered by the county as part of broader relief programs.

Today, that same spirit of service continues with organizations like Shepherd's Heart Food Pantry, where volunteers help provide food and resources to individuals and families facing food insecurity. Through historic acts of compassion and present-day service, Taylor exemplifies a community that takes care of its own — past and present.

**Pictured below is a clip from the 1910 US Census showing the Speegle family living on 3rd Street and already active in the grocery business, an ad in the 1916 THS Yearbook, and a photo of the store when it was still operational in the early 1970s.