What can you do right now to help your community? There is a lot that can be done and most of it is free or cheap. All it takes is a little effort.
For starters, right now there are several dogs out at the animal control facility that need homes. A dog is a long-term commitment. I know that. There is a fee to adopt, about $25. Then there are shots and spay or neuter, city tags. But think of what the returns are on that investment. Unconditional love and acceptance. A dog is unimpressed by your car, clothes or how much money you have in the bank. A dog will love you when you fail or when you are in a bad mood. A dog will never pick a fight with you and will never hog the remote. And the puppers at animal control only have a certain amount of time to find that forever home. The city tries to give as long as possible for adoption to happen, but the resources are limited and the need is great.
The same could be said for the cats at the Watonga Cat Foundation. Plenty of cats and kittens need homes and it will make room for others to be brought in and adopted. That will reduce the population of unwanted or homeless cats in town.
What if you can’t take a new pet into your home?
OK. Help at the library. Or mow your neighbor’s yard if they can’t. Help out at Opportunities. Volunteer at your church.
None of that appeals to you? Pick up a little trash as you walk from your vehicle to the business you are headed to. It isn’t hard. Kinda gross, but it won’t kill you. And we all benefit.
Recycle your items that there are services for. Cans, plastic and cardboard. Again, all it takes is a little effort to make the whole community better.
Do you garden? Share the excess with someone, rather than let it go to waste.
Try to think with a Depression Era head. Who can use this if I can’t? What can I do to help us all get through this and be better when it is over?
True, we aren’t in a Depression, but times are tough for some of us and there are people struggling right here in town.
The point is there is something everyone of us can do to improve our town, support our community and live as we are called to live, with compassion and caring for others.
The more you can do for others, the better your own life will be and the better your community will be for having you as a part of it.