By T. R. Shaw Jr.
For the
past several days we’ve been deluged with images of the devastation in South
Texas. As relief efforts kick into high
gear, the donations of money and material goods are flowing to that
region. It’s always heart-warming to
see America’s true character rise when such catastrophe befalls our fellow
citizens.
Immediately
following such events, Americans open their hearts and checkbooks in an effort
to “do something.” While many of us
cannot physically go there and help, we have an urge to support relief efforts
which is a great thing, by donating to any of hundreds of organizations. Many are worthy, many are a waste of money,
choose carefully when donating.
If one
feels the overwhelming urge to donate, I might suggest you “keep it local” and
help those closer to home which will have a greater impact. A recent report cited the fact that many
heart-felt donations of money and especially goods go unused because of the overwhelming
response in the moment.
Following the massacre at Sandy
Hook Elementary, New Town, Connecticut was flooded with more than 57,000 teddy
bears and more school supplies than they could use in ten years. In Indonesia, following the tsunami,
mountains of donated clothing rotted and had to be burned. After the earthquake in Haiti, thousands of
pounds of donated food had to be destroyed before it could be safely
consumed. While we want to feel good
about “doing something,” many of us have unknowingly created another disaster
in logistics and distribution with our overwhelming generosity.
Following the devastation of the
September 11, 2001 attack in New York, my Rotary Club, Cereal City Sunrise in
Battle Creek, Michigan, debated what to do to help out. We didn’t want to send money. We thought about sending firemen’s boots
because firemen working the recovery were going through them on a daily basis
with the heat and jagged metal. We
surmised, if we did that, how would the boots get there and how would we know
they reached the right people? Do they
really need them?
Our solution to our 9/11 dilemma
became a local one. We decided to
establish a local scholarship fund at Kellogg Community College which supported
any student pursuing law enforcement, firefighting or emergency medical
services. The college has an outstanding
public safety program in each of these fields.
We figured a local 9/11 Public Safety Fund would last longer and have a
greater impact than sending money or items to a faraway place. Today, our club has helped dozens of students
enter the public safety profession. It
was a long term solution to a short term need.
It is something our Rotary Club has been very proud of and continues to
support today.
My
admonition to you is, if you feel compelled to give, please do. But also look around you for needs closer to
home. While it is a great thing to help
those devastated by a natural disaster, there are still plenty of needs in your
hometown. Sometimes it takes a
large-scale disaster to ignite the fires of compassion, that’s human
nature. In these times we see the very
best of people emerge, but let’s not create another logistical disaster when
needs are great all around us.
I’m
reminded of the phrase, “Think Globally, Act Locally” is quite appropriate in
this time in our nation.
Above all, give whatever, and
wherever you can, it’s the right thing to do.
T. R. Shaw Jr. is CEO and
co-founder of Shaw Communication in Battle Creek. You can read his blog, The Reluctant
R(L)eader at www.read-mor.blogspot.com
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