Senator Andrew McDonald

Take Five to Give 5:
Be the Change You Want to See

There’s a lot of talk about “change” these days. President Obama successfully campaigned on the promise of replacing the status-quo in American politics with “change you can believe in.” And while he and his administration are well on their way to delivering that change, our economy has changed lately, too, and has eroded years of financial prosperity and replaced it with an economic downturn the likes of which we have never seen.

These economic changes have landed squarely in the laps of Western Connecticut families as businesses close or downsize, leaving many on the precipice of hunger, sickness, bankruptcy and foreclosure. More than ever in the last few decades, those who live on the margins are being pushed further into despair.

Fortunately, there’s another “change” coming to the rescue. You.

Over half a century ago, Mohandas Gandhi said “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” Now more than ever, that hope-filled statement rings true. State government can only finance a limited number of social and human service programs in Connecticut, especially in this economic climate. The same is true of United Way of Western Connecticut, despite its history of the generous investments of millions of dollars in children and families in need. Those needs continue to this day, and they have grown. The United Way is being asked to do much more with the same, or even less, resources.

Now is the time to “be the change” you want to see on your street, in your neighborhood, in your town and across the region. As we peel away the layers of government and private support, we come to the core that is individual support, people like you, that make the difference in our community. Maybe your neighbor needed help paying a utility bill. Perhaps a co-worker has just brought home a bag of groceries from a local food pantry. Your child’s classmate may have even sought assistance in seeing a doctor. These aren’t strangers; they are the people you see everyday. They have been helped through the generosity of others. Now it’s our turn.

I have donated $5 to the United Way’s “Take Five to Give 5” campaign, and I have asked five friends to do the same. But it doesn’t take cash – you can volunteer your time to counsel children living with AIDS, share your computer skills with those looking to earn their high school diploma, or give personal support for a family in a shelter. The important thing is to act, to “Take Five to Give 5,” and to be the change you want to see. I encourage you to make that difference.

Senator Andrew McDonald
27th District
The State of Connecticut

Learn more about Take Five to Give 5 at:
http://www.TakeFivetoGive5.org

Comments

[Harry Hurvitz]

Senator McDonald's message to "be the change" recognizes the essence of community support. Small amounts contributed by large numbers of community members fortunate enough to not require assistance can make a large impact for those less fortunate. Thanks Senator McDonald for encouragiong all of us to help the United Way of Western CT help our community.

[Tina Mazzella]

Senator McDonald is right on target with his message to our fellow community members “to be the change” you want to see on our streets. It is so important that each individual try to do what we can. Someone once shared with me a quote by Henry David Thoreau “One is not born into the world to do everything…but to do something”. Like Senator McDonald, I would encourage everyone to do something. Volunteer, donate money, help your neighbor,lend encouragement or share a smile. It does not need to be complicated it can be simple. Doing something does matter. Doing something, making a commitment to take an action – is the first step towards any change.

Tina Mazzella

[Karen Carter]

We are living in extremely challenging times. You cannot pick up a newspaper, turn on a radio or television, or talk to a neighbor without hearing about the increasing need in our community due to the eroding economy, rising unemployment, and the increasing number of foreclosures. Individuals and families in our community are hurting. That’s the bad news. The good news is that we have an opportunity to help. Each of us can make a donation to the “Take Five to Give 5” campaign, knowing that our donations will help our neighbors through this difficult time. Senator McDonald and Mahatma Gandhi have expressed it well - we must be the change we want to see in the world. Another great man of peace put it another way: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘What are you doing for others?’” (Martin Luther King). I firmly believe that our blessings increase when we share them with others.

[Michael Johnston]

What a fantastic message. "Be the change" is at the very heart of what the Take Five to Give 5 campaign is all about. It's not about money (although that is a useful tool in helping those in need). It's about communities pulling together to help each other. If we band together, we can be the change and make our communities stronger and more reslilient.

[Rey Giallongo, Executive Vice President, First County Bank]

Senator McDonald's message is on the mark about committment to community and making change. Certainly a donation to campaign is welcome but volunteering in the community does matter as well and contributes to postive change.