Letters to the Editor

NewCanaanite.com recently received the following letters. Send letters to editor@newcanaanite.com to have them published here. 

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Credit: Susan Leeming

About two weeks ago, walking in Irwin Park, I noticed a young boy picking up small fallen branches from a pine tree.  He was accompanied by a woman, white-haired, so I guessed it was his grandmother.  She had her ams full of pine branches as well.  The two of them walked up to a tree along the trail and proceeded to create what you see here.  A shelter for the black squirrel who lives nearby?  An intriguing cave for an exploring child?  A manger for the coming baby Jesus?  Whatever their cause, my take-away was that the grandmother wanted to spend time with her grandson, one that I am sure he will never forget.

Susan Leeming

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As the year comes to a close, we enter a season that invites both gratitude and reflection—a moment to acknowledge what is good in our world and to consider how each of us might help make it better.

Our community stands as a remarkable model of success. We are fortunate to have exceptional schools, a healthcare system among the finest in the region, and a vibrant dining scene led by talented and celebrated chefs. Beyond these visible achievements, we also witness something equally meaningful every day: small, quiet acts of kindness whose ripple effects extend far beyond what we can easily measure.

We live amid extraordinary wealth and generosity. As many residents meet with their accountants or tax advisors at year’s end, I encourage thoughtful consideration of the many nonprofit organizations that serve our local community so faithfully. Programs such as the town’s Human Services Holiday Program, which provides gift cards to children in need; Meals on Wheels; Staying Put; Get About; the New Canaan Food Pantry; and Waveny LifeCare’s charity care program for seniors—ensuring access to essential healthcare—are just a few examples. There are so many others. These acts of kindness are often underreported, yet their needs continue to grow. That such demand exists alongside great affluence is a paradox we should not ignore.

We know certain truths: domestic violence continues to devastate families; untreated mental illness isolates individuals and erodes potential; our children face pressures unimaginable just a generation ago; and too many seniors, who once contributed so much, now face uncertainty in their later years. What we see around us is often only the surface of challenges that run far deeper.

And yet, there is reason for optimism. We have the resources, the talent, and—most importantly—the compassion to create meaningful change. I invite readers, our neighbors, and friends to identify a local nonprofit whose mission resonates with them, to connect, and to give. Give freely, and you may discover that what comes back to you—quietly and profoundly—far exceeds the gift itself.

Russ Barksdale