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As soon as Monday’s edition arrived in driveways and on the newsstands, readers began reacting to the story, “Life on Hard Ground,” about several individuals who are currently homeless and living under the downtown overpass.
All too often, the homeless are treated as invisible, unseen, unclean and unwanted, and few take the time to actually talk to them to find out why they’re where they are and what can be done for them. The VDT news reporter met several while covering a story on food giveaways and became interested enough to return and ask more questions. Unfortunately, within just a couple of hours of the interview, one of the men was assaulted and the news team headed back out to find him covered in blood — a head wound caused by a fight over food.
When is the last time you can remember fighting over food? Not because your family member took the last drum stick from the Thanksgiving turkey, but really, truly having to fight for food? These men and women not only must fight for food every day but have to fight for shelter, clothing, and a thousand other things we all take for granted.
Some read that story and immediately wanted to assign blame to the individuals. It’s all their fault for the situation they are in. Well, not one of them denied having made choices that may have contributed to their situation, but individuals make bad decisions all of the time. Some are simply fortunate enough to have family connections, money or friends to mask those decisions and keep them afloat.
Without assigning judgment, there are numerous good Samaritans from our community who took the story to heart — who took the time to carry food, clothing and even a mattress to those living under the overpass. They reached out and blessed these homeless individuals, serving as their family in a time of need.
A good Samaritan, according to the book of Luke, refers in a parable to a man who showed mercy to another in his time of need.
May we all be good Samaritans and learn to show mercy rather than judgment in our community’s time of need.
What We Think
Living in the open
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Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
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On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
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Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
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Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
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Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
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Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
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Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
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Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
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Thoughts on graduation
