Start something
Two years ago, First Parish Church in Taunton organized an amazingly successful penny drive to assist the survivors of the Southeast Asia tsunami. I was amazed at the response we got from the entire community. As the anniversary of the tsunami recently passed, I thought I would reprint the final letter I wrote, summing up what had been accomplished. Visit our church website for photos of the penny drive.
While most of us here in Taunton cleaned up wrapping paper and Christmas dinner leftovers, the survivors of the tsunami in Southeast Asia were picking up what little was left of their lives. There was something about this record-setting disaster that touched us all and the world is responding with record-setting generosity. In Taunton, we would do no less.The penny drive at First Parish Church in Taunton - one of many efforts throughout the city - set a goal of collecting 125,000 pennies to be laid side-by-side on the chapel floor. Each penny was to represent one life lost. The effort resulted in a moving display that covered [nearly 700] square feet of carpet. More importantly, the money collected will be put to work rebuilding the communities that were - quite simply - washed off the face of the earth.
Lastly, thank you the Rev. Rachel Tedesco and the children, youth and members of First Parish Church in Taunton, the youth group of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Middleboro and all my friends who put in the long hours needed to lay the thousands of pennies and create the amazing display.
Today’s lesson: Start something.