Letters to the Editor

New Hope Village says thanks, needs support

As executive director of New Hope Village Emergency Shelter, I would like to take this time to express my gratitude to the Marshall County community. A heartfelt thank you is certainly in order for all the generous support we’ve received from you over the past months.

As you can imagine, the shelter has seen a sharp increase in the need for services from the food pantry and clothes closet to homeless prevention assistance.

We are so thankful to our continual supporters as they have tirelessly contributed to the lives of so many. Please know, without the support of the community, New Hope Village would not be able to keep its doors open.

Because of these uncertain economic times, the urgent need for New Hope Village’s services is more pressing than ever before.

For those who have not previously contributed to New Hope Village, now is the perfect time to support, whether it’s volunteering, donating items, or contributing a monetary donation. We look forward to your support.

We would like to recognize just a few: Holly Springs Primary School Parent Center, Holly Springs School ROTC, Intermediate School Best Men - Best Friend Club, Rust College Social Work Department, Rust College Education Department, Christ Episcopal Church, Queen of Peace Church, Mt. Zion Church, United Methodist Ministries of Marshall County, Latter Rain Church, Methodist Men’s Club, Carlisle’s Big Star, Piggly Wiggly, Lyle Hennen, Drs. Lillian and David Stratmon, Buford Furniture, Collins-Hurdle VFW, Delta Sigma Theta, Wackenhut Correction and many, many more.

For further information on how you can donate, please call New Hope Village Emergency Shelter at 662-252-4688 or write: Post Office Box 5874, Holly Springs, MS 38634.

Sincerely,
Marilyn Curry
New Hope Village

Smart decisions:
Dear Editor:

Pinning a corsage, tossing a cap — many teens will soon make prom and graduation memories. While we want our youth to enjoy these special times, we also want them to make smart decisions, including not drinking alcohol.

Parents can help their children act responsibly. According to the 2008 GfK Roper Youth Report, the majority of youth — 71 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds — say parents are the No. 1 influence on decisions about whether they drink alcohol.

At A&B Distributing Company, we’re parents, too…sharing the same concerns as every other parent about these issues. That’s why we distribute free copies of Family Talk About Drinking, which encourages parents to talk with their children about underage drinking.

Our “Prevent. Don’t Provide” program reminds adults that supplying alcohol at teen parties is illegal and irresponsible. To help prevent alcohol sales to minors, we also provide retailers with I.D.-checking materials and training to help them serve and sell alcohol responsibly.

Thanks to law enforcement and these kinds of community-based programs, we’re making progress in the fight against underage drinking. According to the most recent “Monitoring the Future” study, past-month drinking among high-school seniors is at its lowest level since tracking began in 1975.

Let’s all do our part to help teens create lasting memories by reminding them that underage drinking should not be part of the celebration.

Sincerely,
Joan Lunsford
Consumer Awareness & Education
A&B Distributing Company
Olive Branch

Marshall County heavily populated with angels
Dear Editor:

Over the past month, we have been dealing with my husband’s serious health issues. He is a diabetic and stepped on a nail, which resulted in a staph infection, an infection in the bone, and yet another infection. He spent a week in our local hospital, Alliance HealthCare System, where he received wonderful care from both Dr. Williams and the nursing staff. Roger was discharged with four additional weeks of IV antibiotics and home health care.

We were unable to afford the cost of these very expensive antibiotics at home, which was very distressing for us. We had no idea what we were going to do!

It turns out that we are so very blessed! Ronnie and Brenda Luther, along with other friends and the Clydesdale Christmas Store, immediately came to Roger’s rescue. Because of their kindness and generosity, my husband was able to get the medicine he needs to heal and survive.

That is not all! Those same friends, along with other wonderful friends, held a benefit for us this past Saturday and presented us with sufficient funds to help us get through this very financially hard time in our lives.

There are so many people who helped, and I don’t know all their names, so I hope they will forgive me if I omit their names in this letter. I will find out who they are and personally thank them!

We do thank Ronnie and Brenda Luther and the Clydesdale Christmas Store volunteers, Bill and Sherry Janssen, Shelley Sharpe, and Lynn Pulliam from The Service Station, Nubbie Hurdle, Walter Bain, Philip Byrd from B’s BBQ, Margaret Bone and her friend, Terry and Betty Byrd, Richard and Paula Novarese, Robert and Nadine Long, John Robert Greer, Sr., James and Joan Lunsford of A&B Distributing, Al from Goodfella’s, Kent and Amanda Smith, the Wings Sunday School class at First Baptist Church, Betty Bennett, Jerri Hendrix, Frank Schmidt, John James, Terry and Karla Rodgers, Ralph and Jean Doxey, David and Betty Young, Beth and Dolly White, Lynne Hogan, Rick Perkins, Darrell Tice, Elton Bray, and all the other wonderful folks who made donations, and who baked cakes and cooked crawfish and BBQ, and worked so very hard to pull off such a fantastic event!

I’ve heard this quote: “Good friends are angels without wings.” Well, Marshall County must certainly be heavily populated with angels who are doing God’s work! I have never seen anything like the way our community gets together and takes care of its own!

Roger and I simply cannot find adequate words to express our deep gratitude and appreciation for the love and kindness that has been bestowed upon us. There is no way we can ever repay our friends and acquaintances to the extent they have helped us; but, we can and will do our best to pass the same love and kindness on to others.

May God bless you all!
With love and appreciation,
Roger and Peggy Mitchell

‘We the people”
Dear Editor,

It is time for all concerned citizens to voice their opinions to our representatives concerning the out-of-control spending in Washington, D.C.

We are already taxed to death and this will only get worse and will carry through our children and grandchildren.

This is not a “Democrat” or “Republican” issue; this affects everyone.

Washington works for us.

We are the greatest nation on earth, but will not continue to be so unless we take a stand. I challenge you, do not fear.

God bless America.

Thank you
Clyde Ellzey
Byhalia


Thursday, Apriil 23, 2009
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Letters To The Editor