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The world is a difficult place sometimes. All you have to do is turn on the news or scroll through social media to see stories of war, poverty, racism, abuse, harassment, disaster, and heartbreak. Faced with so much suffering, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder: How should we respond?
Mr. Rogers once shared, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” Those words remind me of an important truth. While suffering is a reality of life, so is compassion. While people are inevitably broken, vulnerable, and affected by hardship, healing becomes possible when individuals and communities respond with curiosity, courage, dignity, and care.
In this issue of PROTECT, we focus on Looking for the Helpers, exploring the many ways ordinary people can promote safety, healing, and hope in the lives of others. Within these pages, you will find reflections on disability and service, trauma-informed care, grief and mental health, suicide prevention, responding to domestic violence, and helping children navigate a difficult world. Though the topics are diverse, they are united by a common thread: the power of compassionate people who choose to show up, listen, and help.
Creating safer communities begins when ordinary people learn how to respond to suffering with compassion, wisdom, and hope.
As you read this issue, my hope is that you will be encouraged by the helpers around you, challenged to become a helper yourself, and reminded that even in the midst of darkness, there are always people working to bring light, healing, and hope.
Thank you for joining us on that journey.
- Tori Bissell
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