Our communities are the foundation of our strength

Our communities are the foundation of our strength

November 27, 2001

Guest Column
By Martha Benn
Girl Scouts

Are you wondering if the goodwill that we saw across the nation after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks will remain as time goes on?

The outpouring of collective kindness since that fateful day has reinforced our sense of what it means to be an American, and caused us to become a truly united nation. Many people are now saying "hello" to a stranger on the street, helping the parent juggling kids and lots of groceries load the car, or checking in on a neighbor who lives alone. This renewed sense of community spirit can continue in the months and years to come, but it will take commitment from each one of us at our own local level.

So here’s today’s challenge! Girl Scouts of the USA is enlisting the help of every American to take a look at your own community and make a pledge to champion its cause.

Volunteer at your local youth program or deliver meals to the elderly, donate to your town’s humane society, or help provide for the homeless. Offer to baby-sit for the military spouse down the street whose wife or husband was deployed.

Continue to roll up your sleeves and give blood, because there will certainly be people in your own neighborhood who will soon need it. Promise to be there for your neighbors on a daily basis, as well as in times of need.

Do not abandon local efforts that existed before Sept. 11, for while their importance may seem trivial when compared to the televised images of twisted metal, they are the keys to our successful future.

Think of our nation’s children, particularly. So many lost their innocence in the wake of the horrific events of Sept. 11. Children rely on us for comfort, safety and love. We must continue to provide a stable, supportive environment for them, so that they may flourish and have the opportunity to pursue their dreams, even in a world forever changed.

As the Girl Scouts, we say that we are where today’s girls become tomorrow’s leaders. Now, more than ever, we are committed to helping all girls develop their character, be responsible for their conduct and learn the value of community service. We will continue to invest in the children of your community, believing the return on our investment will be the leaders who can effect positive change for generations to come.

The strength of our communities is the foundation that will keep our nation’s chin up and its back straight during the unknown challenges that lie ahead of us.

Let us all continue to work toward turning this horrible tragedy into a never-ending renewal of our country’s spirit, starting with the roots in our community, and the children who are our future.

Martha Benn is president of the board of directors of the Girl Scouts of Chaparral Council, Inc., which serves local troops.