Looking for Examples of Service Above Self
Friends,
I hope this message finds you well. This year has presented challenges beyond any that could have been anticipated or planned for. These unprecedented circumstances have demonstrated our state’s resiliency and the resiliency of her people by coming together to support each other during difficult times. We have genuinely seen obedience to the commandment that you should love your neighbor as yourself playing out across our state, both at home in District 159 and elsewhere.
Over the past few months, I have watched with great admiration as Georgians of all kinds have sought out ways to serve their fellow citizens under ever-changing circumstances. Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black has redoubled his efforts to promote the small business owners that make up Georgia’s agriculture industry. Commissioner Black updated the Georgia Grown website to include information on curbside pick-up and delivery options for listed businesses and worked with UGA extension offices to connect Georgians directly with agriculture producers in their area. Commissioner Black also instituted “Georgia Grown To-Go” pop-up curbside markets where Georgians could buy boxes of Georgia Grown produce for their use and donate boxes of produce to various local non-profits.
The Georgians who run our universities and our technical colleges also deployed their efforts to provide personal protective equipment and testing supplies to hospitals and clinics all over the state. These institutions began utilizing their 3D printers and other manufacturing abilities, creating face shields and other resources needed by healthcare workers, and providing housing and training for traveling healthcare workers.
When schools closed their physical doors, school systems all over our state reorganized their transportation programs and school cafeteria programs to begin delivering individually-packaged meals to students who might otherwise go without breakfast or lunch. The hard-working Georgians in our school systems went above and beyond to serve their students, even in drastically different circumstances than those that were once routine for us all.
Closer to home in Clyo, an adult Sunday school class at Laurel Hill Lutheran Church has been preparing homemade meals to distribute to shut-ins in their community each month. These home-cooked meals undoubtedly bring great joy to those who receive them as well as to those who prepare and deliver them. Providing high-quality meals to those who may not feel comfortable going out right now is vital for our communities’ health and safety.
As we move further into the holiday season, I hope that you all will join me in looking for examples of Georgians serving others and making these complicated times slightly less difficult than they might otherwise be. We are thankful for each and every one of you and the support you give to those in your community. Thank you all for allowing me to represent Georgia House District 159. It is truly an honor to work for you and this great state. If you have any feedback, do not hesitate to call (404.656.5052), email (Jon.Burns@house.ga.gov), or engage on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JonBurnsGA). If you would like to receive email updates, please visit my website to sign up for my newsletter or email me.