Editor, the News-Herald:

It’s time to support the Suffolk Shelter for the Homeless because board members have proven themselves to be ones not to cut and run.

I want to really thank the board of directors and staff members. They have been through some tough times which have allowed them to grow even stronger.

I see them doing their part; now it is the community’s turn to do our part.

As a past resident of the shelter, I know there are many ways we, the community, can come together and help. I feel this is a time for the local churches, businesses and individuals to step forward.

There are more ways of helping than with money. Volunteers are needed to go in and help with different projects – they can never have enough of those; food, cleaning supplies and household items you don’t want or need anymore are needed so that the families won’t have to struggle so hard when they get homes of their own. Help is needed with different holiday projects and back to school is coming.

As the community helps the homeless shelter it is helping us to become better citizens and to be able to give back to the community in the future. There are many ways to help I am not listing here and I am sure if you call the shelter they would gladly tell you how you can help.

And Karen Rodgers is a very friendly person. If you don’t know her, I ask the community to take the time to get to know her as I did one day. I just popped up as she was running off to a meeting but she took the time to speak to me.

The homeless shelter is not just about the homeless; it is about the community and how we treat the people in our area. Take just a minute and think about how we would want others to think about our city. Whether we know it or not we all could just be a paycheck, illness or accident away from homelessness.

So I take this time to ask the citizens to rise and help our community by stepping up and helping out because, God forbid, it could be someone’s turn that we know. Our community is only as good as the people in it.

Holly Parker

Suffolk