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In November, Tyson Foods changed the lives of Lexington residents at the snap of its fingers.In January, the Tyson meat-packing plant closed, putting thousands of people out of work.“The saddest thing is that they fired us just like that,” Constancia Perales, a Lexington man who worked at Tyson for 30 years, said in an interview with Omaha’s News Leader.READ MORE: ‘Whole life just came crashing down’: Lexington Tyson plant closesPerales and his wife Maria Guadalupe-Perales get through their day through music.“For Jesus, everyone is the same,” Perales sang as he played the piano.Perales and his mother-in-law Antonia Muñoz-Ruiz were among the 3,200 Tyson workers let go in January.“All the people leaving were crying,” Antonia Muñoz-Ruiz said. “The gentlemen, who worked the morning shift, came out with pale faces like they had been scared inside.”Perales battles the early morning stillness of not getting up for work months later.“The house is what I’m working on,” Perales said.Now, he repurposes his efforts to fix up their house.“Hopefully, God has another job for me,” Perales said.Perales’ wife Guadalupe-Perales serves lunch at Lexington High School.“It’s difficult for me because sometimes it’s easier to get up and go to work knowing you have the money,” Guadalupe-Perales said. “And that money will come.”She’s now the breadwinner for her family.“I can’t move because my house is here, no one will buy it right now,” Perales said.Due to Constancia’s age, he runs the risk of an accident and can’t travel long distances.“North Platte and Grand Island is too far for me,” Perales said. He’s been unable to find work.“The longer it goes, the harder it gets,” Perales said.READ MORE: Omaha community members to call for urgent support for city of LexingtonHis mother-in-law Muñoz-Ruiz is in the same situation and also battling a medical accident.“Only Christ knows how we’re going to pay for what we owe, in one way or another,” Muñoz-Ruiz said. “Only he knows.”She owes $17,000 on her mobile home, but has plenty of job opportunities.“ sent me $5,000 to leave,” Muñoz-Ruiz said. “And I went to the staff and told them, I can’t leave.”She has to be in town for her grieving son after losing his child. Her son is sick and in the hospital.At the same time, she doesn’t want to burden her family.“The day I can’t stay here anymore, I’m going to Mexico, but I’m not going to live with someone here,” Muñoz-Ruiz said.Faith and music are guiding them through this time of uncertainty.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
In November, Tyson Foods changed the lives of Lexington residents at the snap of its fingers.
In January, the Tyson meat-packing plant closed, putting thousands of people out of work.
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“The saddest thing is that they fired us just like that,” Constancia Perales, a Lexington man who worked at Tyson for 30 years, said in an interview with Omaha’s News Leader.
READ MORE: ‘Whole life just came crashing down’: Lexington Tyson plant closes
Perales and his wife Maria Guadalupe-Perales get through their day through music.
“For Jesus, everyone is the same,” Perales sang as he played the piano.
Perales and his mother-in-law Antonia Muñoz-Ruiz were among the 3,200 Tyson workers let go in January.
“All the people leaving were crying,” Antonia Muñoz-Ruiz said. “The gentlemen, who worked the morning shift, came out with pale faces like they had been scared inside.”
Perales battles the early morning stillness of not getting up for work months later.
“The house is what I’m working on,” Perales said.
Now, he repurposes his efforts to fix up their house.
“Hopefully, God has another job for me,” Perales said.
Perales’ wife Guadalupe-Perales serves lunch at Lexington High School.
“It’s difficult for me because sometimes it’s easier to get up and go to work knowing you have the money,” Guadalupe-Perales said. “And that money will come.”
She’s now the breadwinner for her family.
“I can’t move because my house is here, no one will buy it right now,” Perales said.
Due to Constancia’s age, he runs the risk of an accident and can’t travel long distances.
“North Platte and Grand Island is too far for me,” Perales said. He’s been unable to find work.
“The longer it goes, the harder it gets,” Perales said.
READ MORE: Omaha community members to call for urgent support for city of Lexington
His mother-in-law Muñoz-Ruiz is in the same situation and also battling a medical accident.
“Only Christ knows how we’re going to pay for what we owe, in one way or another,” Muñoz-Ruiz said. “Only he knows.”
She owes $17,000 on her mobile home, but has plenty of job opportunities.
“[One place] sent me $5,000 to leave,” Muñoz-Ruiz said. “And I went to the staff and told them, I can’t leave.”
She has to be in town for her grieving son after losing his child. Her son is sick and in the hospital.
At the same time, she doesn’t want to burden her family.
“The day I can’t stay here anymore, I’m going to Mexico, but I’m not going to live with someone here,” Muñoz-Ruiz said.
Faith and music are guiding them through this time of uncertainty.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
