THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 3, 1995 TAG: 9509020176
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
SOURCE: John Pruitt
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Lessons in civic responsibility come from disparate sources, as experiences one day last week showed:
The first came as I read a story, published in today's Sun, about ``Doug'' Casey, the Planters executive who heads the Suffolk United Way campaign, and others involved in the charity drive; the second, as I traveled East Washington Street, between my downtown office and John F. Kennedy Middle School.
First, the second:
In many rides down East Washington, I've been put off by all the trash along the roadside. Everywhere you looked, it seemed, litter ranging from old tires to fast-food wrappers practically covered certain parts of the area.
Why, I wondered, didn't the people who live in the area - particularly those who occupy public housing - take charge? Don't they realize that bad influences are drawn to areas that look bad?
Why, I wondered, couldn't they show appreciation for their neighborhoods and pick up the trash - even if it was put there by thoughtless passers-through?
People who study such matters say that neighborhood tidiness warns would-be criminals that people who care about each other occupy such areas. That discourages criminal activity. Trashy neighborhoods, however, signal little unity, and those bent on taking what doesn't belong to them, selling drugs or imposing other criminal activities reason that there is little risk because no one will get involved.
It makes sense. If someone doesn't care enough about his surroundings to pick a paper cup being rolled around by the wind, what's the likelihood of his calling the cops on a threatening bad guy?
The good news from East Washington Street is that a group of teenage boys is serious about cleaning up that thoroughfare. When I observed them last Thursday, they'd picked up bags and bags of trash, leaving a path of cleanliness unlike anything I'd ever seen in years of traveling that route.
I hope this outbreak of community pride spreads. It's not their job to see to it that the area stays clean, it's everyone's - those who live there and those who travel through.
Here's one group that understands that - whatever it is - it's not always somebody else's job; they did great work, and the best way to show appreciation for it is simply to put trash where it belongs.
Now, on to the United Way:
It's hard to conceive of a community effort more worthy of support. And, with Suffolk getting a $1.31 return on every dollar raised, it's a challenge to find a better investment.
That doesn't tell the story, though. The real investment is in people, the United Way's reaching out to people who otherwise would have no one to turn to when suicide appears to be the only way out, to kids who would be left alone without after-school programs, to senior citizens who would not otherwise get nutritious meals.
The fund-raising involves thousands of people who likely will never need any United Way service and pools the contributions of individuals who could never, alone, afford the dollars to make the difference of merged gifts.
And, perhaps most appealing about this agency, miniscule amounts go for administration. Its aim is helping people.
That's why Chairman ``Doug'' Casey and other Suffolk volunteers, as well as those in Franklin, Isle of Wight County and other places, are so willing to take on such a daunting challenge. They know the community's been good to them, and this is one way to show gratitude.
The Suffolk goal is $363,859. That's a big figure, but not when everyone does his part. The volunteers have made their commitment. Now it's up to us.
Comment? Call 934-7553. by CNB