I’m a sucker for a good social documentary. Not too long ago, my wife and I watched one about bees. It doesn’t sound like the most thrilling Oscar-worthy film, but it surprisingly kept my attention, and I learned a lot more about bees than I ever thought I would. The film follows a handful of beekeepers who, after transporting their hives across the country to help pollinate numerous farms, started to see millions of their bees mysteriously die. The documentary tracks this growing phenomenon. Was it the fertilizer or pesticides used on particular plants? The rising temperatures or changing weather patterns? A pest control problem on larger farms?
One of the more fascinating discoveries revealed in the film (spoiler alert) was – it is now believed that entire bee colonies function collectively as one organism rather than as thousands of individual bee organisms making up one colony. Thus, when an entire colony is moved or divided, or new bees are added to an older bee colony, the entire colony stops working as it should and the bees succumb to death. When the hive is treated as one larger organism, however, where each bee knows other bees in the hive, when they work together to care for one another and the queen bee, the entire hive thrives.
In my first year as a part of this local University of Lynchburg Hornet ‘hive,’ I have been honored to witness how this hive cares for each of its members. One of the best ways I get to see this up close, without even donning a bee suit, is through our Lynchburg Cares Fund. This fund, collected through employees’ personal gifts and payroll deductions, provides financial assistance for unforeseen burdens in times of crisis to countless students, faculty, and staff.
Because of your contributions, this summer we have been able to help fellow members of our community with getting food, repairing a car, catching up on mortgage payments, securing a safe apartment, purchasing textbooks, and finding a used car. It is no wonder why so many of our fellow students, faculty, and staff love this community. This is one of the many reasons why.
When someone comes into the Spiritual Life Center ashamed of their financial woes, in deep grief and utter crisis, or barely able to stay afloat and often through tears asks for help, it is the greatest honor to be able to answer, ‘Yes.’
The hive that cares for each member thrives. And, the resulting honey for the entire community is ever sweet.
If you would like to financially contribute to the Lynchburg Cares Fund, please contact our office about ways in which to do so. You can also set up a payroll deduction to donate directly to the Lynchburg Cares Fund through the Human Resource Department. On behalf of the Spiritual Life Center, we truly thank all of you who donate to this fund and continue to support our community.