Editor,

The news on any given day seems to show more violence and cruelty. It’s easy to think it’s someone else’s job to fix it, but what if you could do something about it?

Changing the world is actually pretty easy. The trick is one hour — one person at a time. In every neighborhood there is a child who is falling through the cracks and craves attention — ripe to influence — positively or negatively.

In every care center there’s a lonely soul waiting to share a memory and laugh again.

Here are some places I recently talked with who invite you to call and say “hello” and help out:

FOR YOUTH

Boys and Girls Club of Oak Harbor and Coupeville, which needs tradesmen to teach hands-on classes and floor guys to donate remnants.

Positively Linked, a nonprofit needs anyone of any age to encourage empathy and self-esteem for at-risk children.

FOR ADULTS

Assisted living/care centers, which need musicians, readers and listeners.

Homplace Memory Care, which needs games/arts and crafts buddies and field trip friends.

Now, I bet you can think of a dozen more places needing your help.

In closing, I’ll share with you how easy it is to change the world.

My uncle once confided to me his secret of success.

“Seventy percent … is just showing up,” he said.

So, call, say “hello,” and then show up. Just change the world.

Sooz Konopik

Oak Harbor