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It is easy to visualize people standing there with catcher’s
mitts on both hands. They are the “takers” of life who constantly accept
things from others, but who do not give back. You may know some people like
that. I prefer to think that we all are not just takers, but we give back in
different ways and to different causes. There has been much already written about the harsh impact
that the COVID -19 pandemic has had on charities and non-profits. The
financial impact on so many people from the actions taken to slow the spread
of the disease has been the subject of almost nightly news show coverage.
That impact has had the secondary effect of limiting the giving of those
whose own livelihood has been disrupted. Many small local entities like
churches, community arts associations and local museums have also been
devastated by the cancellation of all fund raising activities or suspension
of their services, due to the virus. Fortunately there is some relief
available to some of the non-profit organizations through grants. A less –well documented impact was the subject of the feature
article in this morning’s New York Times daily E-Newsletter – The devastation of small local newspapers
and the impact on their communities of the loss of their local news reporting
services. Many readers of this blog may already know that in addition to
being a Realtor®, I also work part-time for the Spinal Column, a small weekly
newspaper with editions for Milford, Highland, White Lake and Commerce
Township (including Wixom and Walled Lake). The Spinal Column has been around
since 1961 and its name reflects the belief of the founders (and the current
owners) that small, independent newspapers are the backbone of democracy in
their communities, thus the name. Indeed, our country might not have been
born were it not for the local pamphlets, such as James Otis’s Rights of the British Colonies
(1764),
John Dickinson’s
Farmer’s Letters (1768), and Thomas Paine’s Common Sense (1776).
Many of those pamphlets were the equivalent of some or our modern day small
local papers. The Spinal Column Newsweeklies, like other small local papers
is dependent upon the revenues from advertising to support its free
distribution to homes in the communities that it serves. The current pandemic
has wreaked havoc on the local businesses that normally advertise in the
paper, especially local restaurants and small local stores. The revenue
needed to support the staff needed to put out the local papers are
drastically down. That is the reason that The Spinal Column is currently
seeking donations from its readers. There are certainly many worthy causes vying for any charity
dollars that are available this year. That makes it all the more important to
keep our local channels of communications viable. Yes, there will still be
the internet; however, the internet does not have reporters digging into and
reporting the stories of importance in your local neighborhoods. The internet
does not send people to the local Village Council meetings or the Zoning
Board meeting to report on issues of local importance only. The internet may
report the scores of your local high school games, but it doesn’t do the
post-game interviews or post the pictures of the game that your local
newspaper might. There might be a post on Facebook about an imagined
conspiracy behind a local school board vote, but only the local newspapers
actually have people out interviewing the school board members to report the
facts behind that vote. So on this Giving Tuesday, I’m asking you to take off the
catcher’s mitts and consider throwing something back to your local
newspapers, especially in this area to the Spinal Column. As the New York
Times reported, these are the backbones of democracy in our townships, towns
and villages You can go to our web site, http://www.spinalcolumnonline.com
and use the Donate to the Spinal Colum choice in the banner to make a
safe donation to keep democracy alive in this area. What will you throw back today?===JACK: Being involved in your community allows you to know the REAL needs and the best opportunities for giving back. FROM SF IN FL: So many opportunities to help. My favorites are St Jude’s
and Gilda’s Club. Also, the Naples Therapeutic Riding Stables, which does
wonders for children with disabilities, esp autism.===JACK: "Giving people" know the needs and how each gift can make a difference. FROM WILLMAR REV: Never thought if it prior . . . I'm going to
give it some thought and support one of your local 'Mom & Pop' eateries in
town with an extra-large tip! 0;-)===JACK: It's always good to remember Mom & Pop. Those little stores are often the backbone of a real community .===REV: ...a hardworking mother of three whose husband is
incarcerated for rape and robbery, leaving her to fend for herself. Their
marriage went astray when he became addicted to drugs. She just got home from
surgery and will be off work for awhile. Lovely young lady and mother who will
surely be blessed with a generous gift of money to help defray some of her
expenses currently. Thanks
for reminding me of the opportunity. 0;-)===JACK: Your ministry to people in need amazes me. God has certainly placed you in the right place at the right time.
FROM FACEBOOK LIZ: giving of myself starting today, giving tuesday... helping
poor kids complete their online lessons.===JACK: How do you do that? Face to face? or virtual? Who monitors your work, if it's done for school credit?===LIZ: face to face, w/masks... but within inches bc you have to be
able to see their computer screen. it involves helping them complete their online work. some
kids do not have internet at home, so they come here. face to face, w/masks... but within inches bc you have to be
able to see their computer screen. it involves helping them complete their online work. some
kids do not have internet at home, so they come here. had the most adorable 4th grade/9yo black boy. he showed me
common core math... “clustering” is the main concept. clusterf*ck is more like
it. education is failing kids miserably. he is a smart kid who is likely to be
lost to “the system.” we talked about being shy, how you grow out of it, and
trekked together to ask another tutor a question. i told him i was as shy as
he, but now i never shut up, and am afraid of no one. i taught him how to pinch a pencil and make a one continuous
line numeral 8. it was a good morning!===JACK: "Each one teach one; each one reach one." FROM BLAZING OAKS: LOVE Maya Angelou!!! One of my favorites is Smile
Train, also I help support some AB missionaries:(some in
Africa are related to the missionaries Bill and I met and stayed with
when we toured Democratic Republic of Congo in 1970!) Habitat for Humanity, homeless meals, various local
agencies. And of course whatever causes my grandkids ask me to help with! There are SO many good ones, so one has to
choose wisely !!===JACK: So many needs. This year I chose to give several major gifts instead of many small ones...and I don't feel guilty about it, either.
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