We are called upon to care about so many things. It can be difficult to care about all of them.

I am neither callous nor uncaring but will admit that there are more things to care about than I can handle. When that happens, others can be expected to issue a challenge that leaves me feeling guilty and inadequate. They ask, “Don’t you care that there are malnourished children in Bangladesh?” Of course I care. But what can I actually do for the children of Bangladesh? Maybe some fund has been established. Perhaps a few dollars can assuage my guilt and demonstrate my caring.

My relieved sense of guilt about not caring enough will be short-lived. The next problem to be cared about will be introduced by the next television commercial. It is time to “Save the Whales” and the sponsor has an address to which money can be sent. Can only $.19/ day save a whale?

Exactly what might we want to care about? Where can real impact be made? Local issues come to mind. That was a choice that I made years ago.

Locally we can contribute both time and money. The results can be measured and observed nearby. Imagine having effective local efforts underway in every country. The results would be spectacular. In only a decade there would be far fewer needs to be concerned about.

We should supplement the popular term, “Buy Local” with a new term. “Care Local!”