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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
- What We Think
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Charity never tasted so good
For one night, you can indulge your sweet tooth while contributing to a worthy cause at the same time.
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Historic day celebrated
On January 1, 1863, Pres. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, announcing that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious areas are and henceforth shall be free.
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How this garden grew
A special-needs couple wanted a garden. A teacher not only wanted to teach gardening skills but she also wanted to instill a sense of community purpose within her young students.
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Happy Father’s Day
He beamed with pride on our birth. He understood worry upon our birth. He is the giant by which we would judge all men. He protected us. He provided for us. He often sacrificed time with us to provide for us. He spent time with us.
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Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To Stevie Young of Valdosta. The owner of Artistic Taxidermy, Young won Best in the World, Turkey, in the 2013 World Taxidermy Championship. His eastern wild turkey display dominated the competition, earning him the distinction of best in the world. Another title for TitleTown!
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Canning preserves food, way of life
When the going gets tough, the tough getting canning. Valdosta-Lowndes County residents have this opportunity.
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PSST!: Round Two!
With tonight’s opening of “The Marvelous Wonderettes,” Peach State Summer Theatre presents its second show of the 2013 season.
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A responsible fix for pets
The photo and story in Sunday’s paper about the dog whose owners had left him tied up with an electrical cord elicited a tremendous response from readers, outraged at the dog’s treatment.
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A band-aid in a crisis?
The announcement Monday by the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities that a crisis stabilization center will be built in Lowndes County is good news for some, not so great for others.
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Slowing down for summer
Twenty-some years ago, it seemed Valdosta and South Georgia slowed down for the summer. School was out. Controversies seemed to dwindle. People seemed to work shorter hours despite the longer days.
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Charity never tasted so good
