"Fresh Air" For Children

It's a spiritually impoverished society that fails to adequately take care of its children. Sadly, we fail on many counts in that regard in this most affluent, materially pampered society the world has ever known. We have children living on the streets, children killing other children with automatic weapons, children who are sick and deprived of the care they need, children who are undereducated and deprived of hope and opportunity, children neglected and physically and sexually abused, even children who go to bed hungry every night. (Speaking of homeless children, be sure to check out Katia's powerful pictures at IAMKATIA.)

Fortunately, we also have good-hearted people who work tirelessly to address their needs. I continue in my own support for Save the Children, an organization that helps children in the US and around the world, and I hope that you might join me. Your donation is no more than a click away.

These thoughts were prompted by an email I received yesterday from Sara Wilson at The Fresh Air Fund (see banner, to the right of this column,) requesting help in putting out word about opportunities to work in their organization's summer program, designed to give at-risk inner city kids the chance to spend time in an alternative environment for a brief respite from the tough areas where they live. Sara Wilson writes to me from the fund that they are

now accepting applications for counselors for this coming summer of '09. We hire staff members with a wide range in some pretty amazing fields. We are really looking for college-aged men and women who love to work with children.

This seems like a wonderful opportunity for people, young or old, who are seeking to respond to our new President's call for service to the country and the local community. I know that I have some readers out there who are looking for such opportunities, whether to offer their home to host an inner-city youngster, or to help in some other way. I hope that they will take this to heart; and that perhaps they and my fellow bloggers will put out the word in whatever way they deem appropriate. Thanks!

I am thankful, too, that Barack and Michelle Obama are not only placing a huge priority on children and on education in their words and actions, but also personally modeling great parenthood--that is, if we are to believe the images we receive in news reports and on our television screens. Their two children, while privileged beyond the dreams of most of us, seem remarkably charming and steady in the big shoes they are expected to fill. Good for them!