Music Legend Isaac Hayes' Personalized Edition of The Way to Happiness book Launches Buffalo's Inner-city Campaign
Drugs, crime and violence only thrive in a culture that has lost clear concepts of right and wrong. What frequently gets overlooked in the "battle against crime" is that increases in crime statistics are almost universally preceded by a widespread moral decay in society.
Crime, violence and drugs have combined to steadily erode Buffalo neighborhoods and concerned members of the community have joined forces to put a stop to it. On Saturday, May 27th 2006, teams of volunteers from several community and church groups walked the neighborhoods on the East side distributing 10,000 copies of "The Way to Happiness, a simple, straightforward and direct guide to GOOD CHOICES".
The Way to Happiness book consists of 21 precepts (rules of conduct) such as "Be Worthy of Trust", "Love and Help Children", "Set a Good Example", "Be Competent", "Safeguard and Improve Your Environment", "Respect the Religious Beliefs of Others" and more and is a guide to help individuals make positive or good choices and decisions.
Special Isaac Hayes Personalized Edition Distributed
Soul legend Isaac Hayes' Personalized Edition of The Way to Happiness booklets was sent specially to Buffalo for this inner-city campaign. A coalition of concerned organizations provided the manpower to distribute the 10,000 copies.
The Church of Scientology of Buffalo, "Stop the Violence Coalition", "Peace, Inc.", "Healing Tree Ministries" and "Evangelistic Deliverance Holy Ministries" came together at the Healing Tree Ministries Church to not only launch distribution of the book throughout the East Side, but also to rally the resources needed to help the Healing Tree Ministries paint their building.
The Citizens of Buffalo Love The Way to Happiness
The owner of a little corner store was given a copy of The Way to Happiness booklet. He loved it so much, he asked if he could have some extras so he could hand them out to his clients. He was given some and he immediately started giving out his copies.
A lady driving by in her car was flagged down and given a copy of The Way to Happiness. She enthusiastically stated that she had gotten one the week before, had read it and that she just loved it so much that she had been wanting to get more. She asked if she could have more and was given some. She said she works in a collection agency and she had been totally frustrated at work but when she had read The Way to Happiness she was much relieved — and that now she wants to spread the knowledge in the book around to other people, too!
One volunteer by the name of Betsy reported, "Handing out 'The Way to Happiness' in the middle of the road is the best! People are so receptive and glad that we are here. I had one man, he just came from his church, tell me he needs us at Jefferson and Eagle to do the same thing."
One thing the volunteers noticed was that there were many people that had the booklet in their cars. "They had earlier been given the booklet sometime in the prior weeks and it was just astonishing to see how fast they could pull out the booklet and proudly wave it at us while slowly driving by."
Participating Groups Agree the Community Effort Should Continue
Leaders of the participating groups agreed that this same coordinated community effort is one worth repeating.
"This activity is so important to our community. The violence is so high here that we simply must have more of The Way to Happiness," said Mrs. Mary Jackson of Healing Tree Ministries.
A Church of Scientology volunteer reported, "The campaign has thus far had an incredible impact, more than we could at first envision. The people are incredibly receptive and we know from various sources that it is the talk of the town.... We'd like to take it all the way to make Buffalo a safe area by distributing more 'The Way to Happiness' books with Isaac Hayes on the front cover."
