A Lesson from Nature

William Woods University has geese…hundreds of geese.  As I was working in my office next to Junior Lake, my window went black as every geese on the Lake rose as one and started flying in a panic.  As I looked at the melee in the sky, I saw a single white head soaring above and I knew what was occurring.  An eagle was on the hunt.  Sure enough, the eagle dropped down and clipped the wings of one of the geese sending it crashing into the ice below.  The eagle swooped down to finish the kill but missed.  Instead of trying again, it simply flew off leaving the wounded geese to hop back to its flock with a wing visibly broken.

I assumed that the eagle would come back to finish the job but it didn’t.  As the days rolled by, I saw the wounded goose limping along the ground with its broken wing hanging behind.  One day, the geese simply disappeared…perhaps flying south or to better hunting grounds.    All but one…

The wounded goose was left behind.  Unable to fly, it simply could not depart with the flock.  Given the law of nature, the survival of the fittest, I didn’t give the goose long to live.  Then, as I was about to turn away, I saw the most unusual sight; behind a bush emerged two other geese. ..Both apparently healthy and, I assume, a mated pair by the way they kept close to each other.

The pair shadowed their wounded comrade.  Whereever he went, they went.  Though he couldn’t fly, he could swim, though awkwardly, and his companions shared the water with him.  The pair didn’t seem to care that he was hurt, that he couldn’t fly, that he hobbled or looked different from a healthy goose.  They simply accepted him as he was with no judgment.

Why did they stay?  I have no idea.  Can we really assign the human qualities of kindness, compassion, and understanding to one of nature’s creatures?   For that matter, how did the wounded goose feel?  Is it capable of understanding loneliness, fear, or their opposites of companionship and hope?  We may never know.

What I do know is that I have tried to learn to be more understanding and less judgmental as time rolls on.  In years past, I would pass a homeless person looking for charity on a highway entrance ramp and simply pass him by, probably with a disparaging thought as I moved on.  Now, I usually roll down the window and pass along a couple of dollars when I have them.  Am I being naïve or being taken advantage of?   Maybe, but this is more about me than him.  It’s about my values, not just his needs.

If a pair of geese can stay behind to share their time and companionship with a wounded member of their flock, who am I to judge my fellow man in his time of need?  

Want to help your neighbors in need?  Contact the Callaway County United Way 

Dan Diedriech

Callaway County United Way Board Member

Tragedy in Springfield

As our nation mourns the tragic death of 10-year-old Hailey Owens, we look for lessons in the loss.  Perhaps there are none, but we look even so.

Perhaps the speedy resolution to this horrifying incident points to the nature of our communities.  Two neighbors unwittingly became heroes by seeing Hailey’s abduction, noting the license plate, color and make of the vehicle, and even giving chase to the perpetrator for as long as was safely possible.

Perhaps what we see of the support that has been offered to Hailey’s family – especially her mom – over the last weeks demonstrates a bigger, more encompassing community.  Columbia held a “Porch Lights for Hailey” night – offering long distance support to her family.  We stand together against this kind of violence.  We join hands against the violence that robs us of our most precious treasure – our children.

Perhaps we are reminded once again, of the inadequacies of our mental health system in the nation.  Over and over again, whether school shootings or abductions of children, suspects invariably seem to be those who have fallen through the cracks in our society.  Twitter, Facebook, news outlets rage against the suspect in Hailey’s murder, calling for an end to his life in the most heinous of ways.  Would we not be better served by examining this individual for the clues that will lead us to find treatment, prevention, maybe even elimination of this kind of tragedy?

And, finally, what lessons do we learn from the media coverage of this tragedy?  National media chooses about 4 or 5 cases per year to turn into media circuses.  Don’t those cases always seem to be adorable, white girls?  Roy Peter Clark, Vice President of the Poyter Institute has written about this:   in the bygone days of journalism, reporters talked of “good murders” versus “bad murders.”  Good murders always have an attractive, white victim and got you a front page story.  Bad murders encompass everyone else and ended up on page 4. The US Department of Justice estimates that since 2002, 20,000 children between the ages of 0-17 have been abducted by non-family members.  In the same period of time, 38,000 non-white children (nearly double) in the same age range were abducted by non-family members.  So why do we so seldom hear of them?

We don’t’ have answers, but we need to start looking harder.  In the meantime, we hold Hailey and her family and friends close in our hearts and send thoughts of peace and healing.  Think “we” not “me.” #LiveUnited #BuildingHope

The decisions have been made, the dates are set and the Callaway County United Way is ready to make the big announcement...

Friday, September 26th will be UNITED WAY DAY in Callaway County.  A live auction, car show, barbecue, interviews on Zimmer Radio Group, county-wide Penny Drives - just a few of the events that will be going on that day.  And, although we'll have representatives throughout the county, HQ will be at Walmart on North Bluff in Fulton.

Between now and then, watch here, Google+, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,  Instagram and Tumblr for information about other events that will lead us up to our kickoff: UNITED WAY Day.

Stick with us.

Join us in building a stronger, healthier, better community.

Come help us BUILD HOPE!

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What is 2-1-1?

February 11 is 2-1-1 Day, and on this special day we are celebrating all the good things United Way 2-1-1 does to help people. Whether you're searching for child or senior care or need assistance with utilities or job training -- United Way 2-1-1 is there to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To share this message about all the wonderful services 2-1-1 provides, we need your help to spread the word.

Every hour of every day, someone in the United States needs essential services - from finding an after-school program to securing adequate care for a child or an aging parent. Faced with a dramatic increase in the number of agencies and help-lines, people often don't know where to turn. In many cases, people end up going without these necessary services because they do not know where to start. 2-1-1 helps people find and give help.

The 2-1-1 service is a 24-hour, seven-day-a week, 365 day-a-year service, which provides callers with information about and referrals to health and human services for every day needs and in time of crisis.   For example, 2-1-1 offers access to the following types of service organizations:

•       Basic human needs:  food banks, shelters, rent assistance, utility assistance.
•       Physical and mental health resources: health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, Children’s Health Insurance Program, medical information phone lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
•       Employment support:  financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, educational programs.
•       Support for older adults and people with disabilities:  adult day care, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, independent living programs.
•       Support for children, youth, and families:  childcare, after school programs, Head Start, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.

The 2-1-1 Call Center is located at the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Other Missouri United Ways joining 2-1-1 currently include:  United Way of Central Missouri, Columbia Area United Way, United Way of the Ozarks, United Way of Southeast Missouri, United Way of Adair County, United Way of the Mark Twain Area, Carthage Area United Way, and United Way of St. Francois County.

 

Dial 2-1-1 or toll free 1-800-427-4626.      TTY number:  1-866-385-6525

Contact us at http://www.callawayunitedway.com/211.htm , watch the animated video or visit http://www.211helps.org/211-day for more information!

More than statistics ...

I recently had the privilege to give a Callaway County United Way presentation to the Fulton Kiwanis Club.  As a member of a number of service clubs over the years, I have both listened to and given presentation on the importance of giving back to the community through the area United Way.

As I was considering my presentation, I wondered how I could personalize my words to really have an impact on those who were giving over a portion of their day to hear what I had to say.  Certainly, there are a number of statistics that I could quote:

• How every dollar donated to the UW stays in Callaway County
• The number of families impacted by the work of the UW 
• How a dollar to the UW buys up to ten times more food than if we went to the grocery stor

 And the list goes on.

To be sure, statistics are important.  But then I considered something else; what if I were to personally give to those impacted?  Here’s what it might look like:

I give to the United Way through payroll deduction.  This way, I don’t have to write out a check every month.  Convenient but somewhat impersonal.

Instead, what if I wrote out a check to the United Way each month and personally gave it to our Executive Director, Kathy Richey Liddle?  Well, at least I’m making an effort to connect but still not really “all in” yet…

So, instead, what if I gave a check to each of the thirteen United Way agencies. As an example, I could give a few dollars to Julie Roark, Director of SERVE’s Callaway Action Network in support of the food pantry.   That way I could at least I could see where dollars are are making a difference.   Could I do still more???

Finally, what if I gave a penny to each of the thousands of individuals who benefit from the Callaway United Way each year?  I could personally meet with the single mother of three who actually shops at the food pantry.  I could get to know her and meet her family.  I’m sure she would appreciate my penny.  Of course, it would mean a lot more if all those who support the UW could give her their pennies as well.

Practically, of course, we can’t do that.  Which is a shame.  Wouldn’t it be great to know all of those who personally benefit from the Callaway County United Way each year?  While we can’t do that, what we can do is remember those who we are supporting when we write our checks and make our payroll deductions.

After all, people give to people.  Always have. Always will.

Why I donate to the CCUW

I donate to the Callaway County United Way for many reasons; because I know that the agencies funded are thoroughly reviewed, that all the money raised stays in the community, and that our community resources are pooled in order to assist the maximum number of people possible.

As a single parent, there were multiple times that the services of a United Way agency made a significant difference in my life, and allowed me to better support my children.

As a long-time board member and volunteer for the CCUW, I have faith in the commitment and the trustworthiness of the organization and it’s operations. I appreciate knowing that I can help more people by donating money and time to the CCUW via my workplace than I could on my own -- the impact is greater when pooled with others.

I also believe that LIVE UNITED is more than just a catchy phrase.  By helping the CCUW, I help those in my community improve their quality of life.


Please help, and make a donation today!  Information on the many ways that you can give can be found at http://www.callawayunitedway.com/Donate.htm .

Cathi Harris
Westminster College
Fulton, MO
 

The Privilege of Giving Back

As we begin 2014, it is natural to reflect on the past year and the blessings we have received.   Over the holiday season, time with family and friends spent over wonderful meals, unwrapping presents, and simply enjoying time together are all wonderful gifts.

What I found most interesting, however, was that the time of my greatest joy was not unwrapping my own presents but looking at the expressions of surprise and joy when my loved ones opened theirs.  There is something about human nature that simply enjoys seeing others benefit from our thoughtfulness, no matter the occasion, no matter how small.

Several years ago, I went “midnight shopping” with a group of friends from my local service club; picking out presents and buying groceries for those in our community who needed support over the holidays.  I never met the people who opened those presents nor did I see them enjoy the holiday dinner that we provided.  Yet, I felt warm inside thinking that I had made a difference for this family.

Put simply, making others feel good, in turn, makes us feel good.  It is the way we’re built.  I truly feel sad for those whose focus on themselves will not allow them to truly understand the joy of giving.

In my forty years of partnership with the United Way, I have had numerous opportunities to learn of the power of giving back.  It is a truly transformational experience, if you allow yourself to recognize it as such.

For 365 days a year, 24-hours a day, the Callaway County UnitedWay serves our community.  In 2014, immerse yourself in the joy of giving back to those in our community through your time, talent, and treasure invested through the Callaway County UnitedWay.

And, don’t be surprised if you end up being the person whose life has benefited the most by your caring and generosity.

Dan Diedriech
William Woods University

Fulton, MO