LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) -- Wednesday's message of hope is from State Senator Ron Alting. 

"In these trying times I'm often asked what can we do to help our community," said Alting. "What can we do to pass the time?"

Alting said his answer is simple; it's compassion.

"These are the times you should perhaps call your neighbors just to check up and to say how are you or the senior citizen couple in your neighborhood that can't get out and say 'can I bring over a nice warm meal,'" said Alting. "And by the way, order it from a local independent restaurant. These are the times that perhaps you want to call someone that you once had a conflict with. And say lets put it behind us and move forward or call agencies like Lafayette transitional housing, LUM, or food pantries and thanking each and every one of them thanking them for what they're doing to help the needy and the poor. We need to be at this point in history givers and not takers. I encourage all of us to move forward and to be a giver."