When my kids were little and winter came, I used to talk to them about snowflakes. If just one snowflake falls from the sky, or even a few, we don’t notice. It simply drifts down until it lands and disappears.
However, our entire landscape changes when millions of snowflakes fall together. Together, snowflakes can make the world stop. They are a force to be reckoned with, their impact far-reaching.
The same can be said for people. When we come together, we can change our entire landscape. Literally. There is no better time to protect our landscape and our earth. In fact, Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si', calls us to do so. Reducing the use of single-use plastic is just one small way we can make a big difference.
Recently, Live The Good volunteers came together to write letters urging corporations to offer eco-friendly alternatives to single-use plastic bags. We began with a brief presentation, recorded on Zoom, by Teresa Phillips, Director of Justice, Peace, and Care for Creation. Using a fact sheet and letter writing tips, volunteers wrote 56 letters to corporations such as Kroger, Meijer, and Wal Mart.
It didn’t stop there. Notre Dame Mission Volunteers AmeriCorps took time from their mid-year conference, held on the same day, to write letters using our fact sheets and tips. Two schools, including one from California, also joined our efforts. One parish distributed our materials to parishioners, encouraging them to write letters as part of their Lenten practice. I guess you could say we got the snowball rolling!
Together, we can do so much!
As I finished that snowflake conversation with my kids, I let them know the most magical thing about snowflakes. In all the millions, no two are alike. Each one matters, and each one is needed to make a big impact. Just like us.
Be Well. Do Good.
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TOP: Live The Good Letter Writing in Cincinnati, Ohio
BOTTOM: NDMVA Service Project Ink to Action, Baltimore, Maryland