Letter: Citizens must come to the aid of others

Your recent “helping the homeless” articles by Nancy Pasternack are awe-inspiring and well worth our local newspaper’s front-page coverage. Our population in the twin cities should understand the challenges we face as a society addressing the overwhelming vulnerability of these families who are experiencing this current economy’s devastating financial setbacks. We should all remember the expression “There but for the grace of God go I.”

We must not become complacent and turn our backs on these suffering families. Yet most of us who are more fortunate don’t know much about these riverbottom locations or which local group or charity would take monetary contributions to address this alarming and appalling situation.

Last year I attended a charity fund-raiser event collecting monies for a proposed youth center which would provide a facility for children living in these less than desirable circumstances. The youths would be able to go to this planned center and shower, do their laundry, enjoy a hot meal and study. Perhaps you could give more details on how the counties’ more fortunate families with secure employment would be able to give back to their community and donate funds or clothing for this much needed facility.

It is imperative that we as a collective group of responsible citizens  of the twin cities assume some of the responsibility to help our own as we cannot rely on any state or government assistance in these troubled times.

Victoria (Vicky) Mathews
Yuba City