I belong to any number of national and international groups, and basically I just send them money when I have it. World Wildlife Fund, Amnesty International, US Humane Society, you name it.

And these groups are great. They have a VOICE. They have lobbyists. They get important and newsworthy things fixed in our world. I’ll never give them up.

But there’s another type of group I’m noticing: grassroots action groups. In my own town, we have “Pets Alive,” because we‘re in the process of going 100% no-kill in our animal shelters. We also have, as most towns do, Meals on Wheels. There are all kinds of safe-houses for women and children that are private and local.

I’m noticing that these smaller groups are getting a lot accomplished, too. As much as the big groups, these grassroots, accessible groups are helping to bring safety, kindness, and care to the people and animals of individual communities.

I’ve volunteered locally for the blind community, and I am thinking about offering some time to “Pets Alive.”

And yes, they need money too! I have my special [Link Removed] group that is trying to keep up with all the homeless donkeys and burros, but is desperate for money. They make a huge difference in our world.

Many therapists and self-help gurus have said: If you‘re depressed, if you‘re caught in a rut, if you‘re between jobs, if you find you‘re angry all the time, if you watch too much TV - why not find a grassroots cause and see what you can do to help? Regularly helping others, say some therapists, can give us just as much of an emotional boost, as medication!

So. There’s a lot going on out there. But we don’t have to feel helpless anymore. We can find a grassroots group in our area, a group that shares our personal concerns, and pitch in a little bit.

There’s power on a local level. We need only tap into it! We can make a difference.!(image description)!