An advocate for those in need

This Saturday, Nov. 7, InterServ will commemorate the 100th anniversary of its mission of service to the greater St. Joseph area.

We invite you to join us at our Wesley Center, 200 Cherokee St., from 1 to 4 p.m., with a program at 1:30 p.m., as we reflect on a rich history in pictures and stories that keep us mindful of the sharing of gifts and talents that people of faith have given over those many years. Their contributions have been a response to the needs of people, especially to those with the fewest alternatives in life, and a response filled with great compassion and reflective of the social teaching of the Gospel.

As we look forward into this next century, we continue to ask the community, and as friends of InterServ, to join with us in a vision of being the leading advocate in addressing the needs of most vulnerable and in fulfilling a worthy mission — that of sharing God’s love so that all may live their lives more fully and more completely. On behalf of the board of directors, staff, volunteers and those served, we give thanks for your generosity and your willingness to be servant and advocate to people in need.

Dave Howery

InterServ executive director

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Ordinance doesn’t affect volunteers

The new ordinance that just passed on Monday regarding licensing for serving liquor does not affect the sales and training required for volunteers. In fact, the St. Joseph Youth Alliance and the St Joseph Police Department have defended the practice now used and asked that it stay the way it is.

Yes, there were some people who wanted the same rules applied to everyone, but Officer Larry Stobbs made this statement: “It does not make sense to make a person spend $15 and go for two hours of training for maybe working two hours once a year to raise money for a good cause.”

I would like to assure Mr. Beck, who wrote the letter published Wednesday, that neither I nor anybody I have worked with on this ordinance wants to make it hard on volunteers to raise money for nonprofits. I also would like to thank him for raising this question because maybe others do not know the correct information.

Steve Holdenried

St. Joseph

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Take a walk in their shoes

Most times the “It’s your call” segment just makes me laugh at the ignorance of people. The “Stop sports” item made my blood boil! How many times and in how many ways must the income and vacation issue be explained concerning teachers?

Teachers have such exorbitant incomes that they sit in the sun for three months on some exotic beach. Wrong! So many teachers take extra jobs in the summer and/or go to school. Teachers also have so much extra income, they can easily purchase extra things to utilize in the classroom to help our children or grandchildren. Wrong again!

I so wish that this critic could follow a teacher around for just one day. See what they do, and how they have to cover many areas. This critic must follow that teacher after school when they finally leave the building, pick up her own child from practice or music lessons, etc., or stop by the grocery if needed. They must observe the activities at home, fixing dinner, fielding calls, running kids to activities, maybe even the dreaded sports activities griped about. Finally, settle down with the teacher to prepare for the next day. There are lesson plans to write and three piles of papers to grade. There are also extra things such as ironing, laundry, or fixing lunches for the next day. Gee, do you think the teacher might have five minutes to talk to their spouse or give their Mom a call?

Am I exaggerating? Not on your life!

Next, about the remark about the parking facilities for the student population. Here is a typical scenario — mom goes to work before 8 a.m. out of town, say at an area hospital. Dad works different shifts, sometimes getting home long after the student is due in class. The student can’t ride a bus, because they need to go early for play practice, music practice or the dreadful sports activity such as lifting weights. Do they need to be able to transport themselves? Yes! I could go on and on with different scenarios, but you get the point.

Finally, the dreaded sports: Kids need to be well-rounded in their education. Sports teach leadership, teamwork, strategy, courtesy and the ever-valued friendship. To be able to compete in this world, in the workplace, military or any vocation, all of these are needed.

I can’t help but be curious abut the person who called in that item. Are you unhappy in your workplace, or with your child’s or grandchild’s ability to navigate this complicated world, or is it that you just don’t have anything to do but gripe? Don’t criticize what you don’t know! Lend a helping hand, a word of encouragement and realize that you are most fortunate to live in a land where you may comment without fear of retribution, even if your remarks are inaccurate.

Valerie A. Wigton

St. Joseph