FN EDITORIAL
LOVE IN GIVING: SHOW THANKS BY HELPING NEIGHBORS, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC
Most of us have probably heard this age old adage: when you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, but when you teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime.
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, we feel compelled to donate food to help those in need. We may dedicate our time during this prosperous holiday season to bring out our charitable selves. But why does the buzz and attention advocating the help of others thrive in a such a short period of time?
In Dayton, we witness the struggles people face when they are not provided a sustainable model of support. We should donate a can or two, or more, to the local food bank, but in some ways that’s like “giving a man a fish.” It’s important to get involved in this way, but we should also work to create a more sustainable model for our society, one in which people are given the opportunities they need to achieve success.
At the University of Dayton, we have plenty to be thankful for. We’re getting an education, we have loving parents and friends, and we potentially have jobs lined up for us once we graduate. Staff members at Flyer News are forever grateful for health and happiness.
Beyond UD’s borders however, our neighbors are suffering. Whether they live right down the road, or are victims of the recent typhoon in the Philippines, they need help.
Homeless, hungry and scared of the unknown. People all over the world experience these feelings.
The best way for us to show our thanks for our blessings is to share those blessings with those in need.
Text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 for the Philippines Relief Fund or join UD’s Center for Social Concern on Nov. 21 for its homelessness plunge by signing up at www.udayton.edu/ministry. It doesn’t matter who you help, what matters is that you are showing support for your fellow man, showing your gratitude for your good fortune by giving others a helping hand.
It might serve us all some good if we always remind ourselves of how blessed we truly are and see it as motivation to offer the same to others.