Letters to the Editor for Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Salvation Army thanks local community
The Salvation Army salutes a compassionate and caring community.

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We wish to express our appreciation to the people of Lynchburg and the surrounding area. Without a doubt this is probably the most caring community we’ve had the privilege of working with in our 25 years of ministry in The Salvation Army. Even in the midst of a suffering economy, so many of you reached down deep to help lighten the burden of others.

The outstanding work of The Salvation Army staff, advisory board and volunteers has been remarkable. Thank you.

Many less-fortunate families were helped during the holiday season and many more will be assisted during 2009 because of the generous contributions of money, food, gifts and time given by our many donors, bell ringer volunteers, stocking stuffers, money counters, Angel Tree supporters, food drive contributors and distribution helpers. Thank you. To the many churches and businesses in the community that have made contributions, helped in the feeding program and blessed others in so many ways, we say “Thank you.” To all of you who put money in those red kettles each time you passed, we say “Thank you.” The list goes on and on. We are indeed grateful to everyone who helped in any way great or small.

Evangeline Booth said in 1919, “There is no reward equal to that of doing the most good to the most people in the most need.” Today, doing the most good is still the promise we are making to the community. The Salvation Army loves doing what we get to do, but we only get to do what we do because of the support and generosity of the people of this wonderful community. Thank you.

May God bless you all.
Majs. DAVID and DEBBIE COPE
Corps Officers
The Salvation Army

Don’t spook us
I drive by The News & Advance building every day, so I know you’re not on Mars.

Yet you would never know it from your disembodied declarations of economic doom, especially those from The Associated Press.

I think Lynchburg has been lightly touched and will continue to be so with an economy based on colleges, health care and atomic power. But still we’ve kicked the daylights out of car sales, retailing and anything else we can put off buying, even essential maintenance and some health care which is certainly long-range stupid.

I’ve read 80 percent of the U.S. economy is consumer-based — more bluntly, on what we blow on ourselves, so clearly it’s possible to scare ourselves to death even if there’s nothing wrong. Just think back to the one-day gas station panic last fall.

So please, Mr. Editor, read and believe that you are part of the problem. And yes, my net worth has been halved, plans shelved and my heirs may feel deprivation if I die tomorrow, but like the fall’s gas panic, this will pass.

My current fear is we’ll scare ourselves into digging the hole we’re in even deeper than necessary, leaving a worse crisis for our children.

So let’s see even-handed reporting; we need to be informed, not spooked.
BUDD ADAMS
Lynchburg