About a year ago I asked our community to think outside of their own experience, to think about others that they saw, and to give me their thoughts.
Here is what I have found, in a nutshell.
We all feel and see the need here for people to feel cared about. And we all see the loneliness, drug and alcohol abuse, homelessness, disabilities and hunger that exist in our community. We see people who are trying and failing to make ends meet, people who don’t feel safe, and people who need to ask for help without feeling judged.
We want good things for our young people. We want them to go out into the world knowing how to take care of themselves, but we realize that a lot of them have never really been taken care of their whole lives. We want them to be able to see past the next meal or the next week — something that’s hard for them to do right now.
We also see a community that has a lot to offer, be it their time, talent, or their money.
Community is not the town that we live in. It is the people who live in the town. While we’re getting Humanity House running at full steam, I want to challenge each of you to do something kind for someone that you do not know. Have a real conversation with someone that you don’t know. Ask them how they are and listen. Hold the door for someone or carry their groceries.
Then do it again tomorrow. And the next day.
IN THE MEANTIME, we are building Humanity House. It’s not the answer to everything, but it’s a start. Ask yourself what you have to give. Do you have time to help out? An hour a month, an hour a week? Could you put yourself out there to help others? Ask yourself honestly — how much time could you spare out of your week?
Do you have a talent that you could share? Do you sew or knit? Play a mean game of Scrabble or chess? Do you know how to draw, paint, or play an instrument? Are you a carpenter? Do you know how to make a budget or write a resumé? Are you willing to share with others what you know to make their lives exciting and fun?
And finally, if you have plenty, are you willing to share it — once, or once a month. If you have the ability to financially help build your community and help the people who live here feel cared about, loved, fed, happy, not lonely, and connected in a way that they have not felt their whole lives, or not for a long while, then do that, but do it without judgement.
In all of the conversations that I have had, everyone sees the need. Everyone sees the disconnect. No chain is great when the links are not connected. Connect the links, make them strong, and they can withstand anything.
Think about it, let us know. Thanks for participating. Kindness matters!
