|
Editorial: Find a need and fill it
Op-Ed · November 19, 2015
Three recent examples — and certainly not the only examples — of people sharing their talents and resources provide us with examples of practical ways to benefit the community.
First is Summer Saylor, a sixth-grader involved in Miss Iowa, who needed a service project to fulfill competition requirements. The 11-year-old’s decision to raise money for a Buddy Bench shows her ability to recognize that certain children are standing alone on the playground, and that they probably just want someone with whom to play.
The bench gives those children a nonverbal way to signal they would really like someone to invite them to join in. Like Facebook’s “relationship status” feature, it not only helps the person sitting on the bench, but those looking for more kickball players — sometimes it’s not only the ones sitting on the bench who are too shy to ask without a little help.
Then there’s Curt Livesay, owner of DynamiteAg crop consulting company, offering to fly his video drone around town to produce a promotional video for the city.
Here’s a guy who is using his passion, resources and the somewhat flexible schedule that comes with certain business ownerships, to give something to the community. The video is still in the works, but if it is anything like the “A Tribute to our Farmers” video he showed to the City Council, then West Branch will have yet another way to showcase this great community to the world.
The third example is how Cotton Creek quilt shop and Bethany Lutheran Church teamed up with SharingTheWeight.org to produce 15 to 20 weighted blankets for children suffering from autism or other mental challenges. The women who helped gave of their time and either knew how to work a sewing machine or had a a family member who could or has benefitted from the therapeutic benefits of these blankets. Some drove more than an hour to help, finding out about the sewing party through Cotton Creek’s or Bethany’s newsletters or social media.
These examples help us to consider how we can use our “time, talents or treasures” to benefit others. We see lots of people in West Branch doing great things like this, and we would love to see more. We encourage others to take stock of your available time, what you do well and what resources you possess or control that could go toward improving the community. It does not need to be complicated — just find a need and fill it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
