Bringing Light to the Dark

Lately it can feel as if unspeakable acts of darkness are literally blotting out the sun. Another week, another tragedy.

After each act of evil, we find ourselves asking, "What can we do?"  At Plenty we say, "Hearts on sleeves, shovels in hand." What we mean is that good intentions matter – but good intentions are not enough. One of our guiding beliefs is that there is always more to do. We have to move beyond empathy and compassion to act in the face of the struggles, hardships, and pain that people are experiencing.

Hope needs help more than ever. 
Your help, and ours. 

That is why, when we heard the news of the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, we grieved deeply for both the Jewish community in Squirrel Hill and all Jewish communities around the world. We, prayed, lit candles, and came together as a team to discuss what we could do to help.

Following the wisdom of Justice Louis Brandeis that "sunlight is the best disinfectant," we made a donation to the Southern Poverty Law Center on Plenty's behalf. The SPLC is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. They maintain one of the nation's most comprehensive databases of hate groups, take on the most important civil rights cases, and teach anti-discrimination workshops across the country. They can be found at www.splcenter.org. 

As we approach the giving season and #GivingTuesday, each of us at Plenty is committed to making intentional choices about where we spend our time, energy, and resources. Please join us in bringing light to the darkness that you see in your communities, in your families, and in humanity. Together, we are stronger. Together, we can be enough.

And if you feel compelled to share your story of passion in action with us, we'd love to hear it.