WANT NOT, WASTE NOT
And in today’s very challenging economic environment, many of our fellow citizens of Western Connecticut are in danger of being wasted.
Their emotions are being wasted by consuming worry about securing the basic needs of human life—food and shelter—for themselves and their families. Their dignity is being wasted by the embarrassment of falling, for the first time, into the folds of our society’s often not-so-tight safety net. Their personal aspirations are being wasted by constant rejection in efforts to better their situations. Their very humanity is being wasted by the disappointment and invisibility that unemployment and homeless bring.
This waste affects not only those most in need, but all of us in our respective communities. How many potential loyal employees, enthusiastic volunteers and community role models are we losing to the frustration and defeat of today’s economic downturn? How many great ideas to make Western Connecticut a better place will we never hear? How many children will have their dreams deferred, if not shattered, by their families’ circumstances?
Obviously, we here in this one community cannot reverse global economic trends. But we can today help those who are most vulnerable to them. This Recession will end; better times and more opportunities for all will return. If we can assist those who are in need today to make it through these difficult months by supporting the superb agencies that help them, the worst of the waste that scars their lives—and our community—can be reversed.
That’s what TFTGF is all about: providing resources to our social service agencies to see those in greatest direct need through the worst of this economic crisis. Join me in supporting the
President, Western Connecticut State University
We seem to live in a society of consumerism in which waste is rampant. But as Dr. Schmotter points out, we are now in jeopardy of wasting our greatest resource - our people. Help heed his call for help in raising people from despair to hope. Take five to give $5.
Posted by: Michael Johnston | June 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM
The pace of life today with the demands of carpool, extended families, longer work days and the ever present Blackberry, make it easy for all of us to forget what is truly important, an essential element of which is our connection to others. In the words of Sir Winston Churchill:
"We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give."
Posted by: Brooke Feder, Director, Cushman & Wakefield | June 17, 2009 at 12:14 PM
As we continue to have a more global perspective on life...which I agree is important to have...it seems to become easier to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the problem and forget that we all can do something by working together. It might be helping a particular neighbor or two, or pulling together as a neighborhood. However it is that we support each other, it's critical in times like this that we each play an important role in improving our lives...and making sure that nobody is left wasted in the process.
Posted by: Elizabeth Goehring | June 17, 2009 at 01:04 PM