Letters to the Editor for Saturday, November 14, 2009

Apathy defeated Valentine, not LU
After all of the talk and now the “blame” for Del. Shannon Valentine’s defeat in the 23rd District election all falling on Liberty University students, I felt compelled to write this letter.

Darrell Laurant’s column in The News & Advance on Nov. 5 talked about the students being bused to the polls “presumably to vote for (Republican Scott) Garrett.” Don’t you think some of them voted for Valentine? There had been several letters to the editor from LU students for Valentine.

Laurant’s column stated Ward II “wasn’t really there for Valentine.” Also in The News & Advance on Nov. 5 was a chart comparing registered voter turnout to the 2008 election. In Ward II, one precinct showed 29 percent voted this year compared to 56 percent last year; another precinct showed 29 percent voted compared to 60 percent last year and the third precinct showed 31 percent voted compared to 63 percent last year.

In my opinion, this is where the Democrats let her down.

They bused or sent vans last year to pick up voters — apparently they did not do that this year. I think the Democrats have only themselves to blame; don’t blame it on LU.
RUTH M. BROOKS
Lynchburg

Citizens lauded
The author of a recent letter to the editor declared that during her nine years here she saw “the lack of support our community receives.” This came after a visit to the Lynchburg Daily Bread.

She also commented that it is “disgusting” that we spend millions to make our community beautiful, “pour money into the arts,” and not take care of our people.

As vice president of the board of the Daily Bread and president of the Friends of the Academy, I feel uniquely qualified to respond. This is in no way intended to criticize, merely to offer a positive point of view to consider.

The Daily Bread receives food donations from the local colleges, grocery stores and restaurants. We have two major fundraising campaigns a year, along with several work intensive functions manned by citizen volunteers to raise money to keep our doors open.

We have many volunteer servers and food prep workers, and people who give their time to provide counseling, health services and information about community services. This to me is a great tribute to the people of Lynchburg who have kept the Daily Bread alive for 365 days a year for 27 years!

Ironically, the day before the letter appeared, I had a meeting at the Academy where I collected a truckload of coats that the members donated, and it is filling up again. When there is a need of baby items, toiletries, paper products or whatever, all I have to do is ask and the people of Lynchburg respond. Many local artists are volunteering their talents depicting scenes from our Clay Street location.

These scenes are printed on cards we use for solicitations, and the originals hang in the dining room. When the tables are decorated or the window boxes are full, our guests comment on how nice it is. Everyone appreciates a little beauty.

We cannot condemn people who give to the beautification of our city and our souls, because they are many of the same who are keeping the Daily Bread in business. We need both. The citizens of Lynchburg are to be commended for their generosity in keeping both fires burning.
REGINA HOCKYCKO
Lynchburg