The Elder Abuse Reform Project (The EARN Project): Margaret Meade

"NEVER DOUBT
THAT A SMALL GROUP OF THOUGHTFUL, COMMITTED CITIZENS CAN CHANGE THE WORLD;
INDEED, IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT EVER HAS."

Now, almost 100 years after Margaret Meade spoke those words, they are every bit as true. But now, though the organization may be small, it needs to be joined by many voices to be heard.

It can be very discouraging to be greeted by indifference when we try to enlist people's help in our campaign to end elder abuse in America. We just received a letter from a state first lady, who we had asked to speak up about this problem—she said she was too busy. Many simply do not believe it is that big of a problem or that, though it may happen to other people, it won’t happen to them. In fact, one out of every five of those people will have it happen to them and then they ask why this is allowed to happen. I can answer that question. It happens because you, and many like you, did nothing to help stop it - because you were indifferent to the suffering until it was your suffering.

Happily, there are others who care very much and jump right in to do what they can.

The EARN Project made a little poster for Elder Abuse Awareness Month and our wonderful volunteers, all over the country, printed them up and took them to local businesses. We even got a few pictures from two of those wonderful volunteers Angela Biggs and Kathy Dunn.

PHOTOS CREDITS:

Top Left: John Witte the owner of Sit n Sip Books in Mineral Wells Texas put our poster in his shop;
Top Center: Gerry Lamphier at the National Vietnam War Museum in Weatherford Texas holds up our poster that they put up in the museum;
Top Right: Holding the poster they put in the window of the Copper pot Restaurant downtown Clarksville Georgia;
Middle Left: The Attic restaurant in downtown Clarksville Georgia put the poster in their restaurant
Middle Center: Regions Bank in Clarksville GA;
Middle Right: Christine holding the poster and the sign in the window of Tinder's restaurant in downtown Clarkesville Georgia;
Bottom Left: Coz Whitten Skaife did a fund raiser for NASGA at her bakery Rosie's Coffee Bar and Bakery in Madison WI And she put up the EARN poster and gave away DVDs of our documentary;
Bottom Right: Owner of Garrett Jewelry and Loan in Mineral Wells Texas, Lisa Garrett and friends holding The EARN Elder Abuse Day poster she put up in her shop;
Also in Clarksville GA, though not pictured, the Midtown grill and Ingles grocery

Source:The Silver Standard News
The Unforgivable Truth
The EARN Project