Gallery: Small Town Shows Scars of Economic Struggle
Jared Soares01js-mville-final-001
*An abandoned lumber mill in Martinsville, Virginia, rests in overgrown brush. Many residents depended on mill and factory jobs to provide for themselves and their families.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares02js-mville-final-009
*A stray cat is held by 10-year-old Domineek Richardson near his father's home in Martinsville, Virginia. Richardson's father works as a barber -- one of the only sustainable occupations in the area.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares03js-mville-final-002
*19-year-old Brandon Harris gets the lyrics to a Bob Marley song tattooed next to an earlier tattoo of the state of Virginia.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares04js-mville-final-006
*Retired minister Leonard R. Jones at his home in Martinsville, Virginia. Jones, along with his friends and family, were devastated by the loss of manufacturing jobs in the area.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares05js-mville-final-021
*John Fisher with his girlfriend Crystal Whitener and her children, Leif and Jade, at the Martinsville Skate Park. The couple looks for low-cost and free ways to entertain her kids.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares06js-mville-final-004
*20-year-old James Hayden walks in his neighborhood in Bassett, Virginia, a town adjacent to Martinsville. Bassett was home to Bassett Furniture, a factory that provided jobs and an identity to the town and surrounding area. In recent years, Bassett has laid off its entire manufacturing staff, switching its focus to distribution instead of production. Hayden has had difficulty finding permanent employment.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares07js-mville-final-014
*A child waits for his grandfather's name to be called at The Community Storehouse in Ridgeway, Virginia, a food bank that allows those who qualify to take a box of food items once a month. The Community Storehouse is the only food bank in the Martinsville area. It feeds close to 1,000 people each month.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares08js-mville-final-010
*Mixed martial arts fighter Joe Ray trains with his son and girlfriend at Game Changers Training Center. Ray is supporting his family through paid sanctioned fights throughout Virginia.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares09js-mville-final-017
*Crystal Whitener tries to fix a cigarette while being hugged by her daughter Jade.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares10js-mville-final-012
*Moments before Sunday worship at Victory Ministries church.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
11js-mville-final-015
*Joe Ray at home with his family and five-week-old baby, Samson.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares12js-mville-final-011
*Joe Ray and his mixed martial arts training partner Sumner measure each other's reach.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
Jared Soares13js-mville-final-016
*John Fisher with his girlfriend Crystal Whitener at his mother's home in Collinsville, Virginia. After being laid off from his job at a call center, Fisher was forced to move back in with his mother.* *Photo: Jared Soares*
