Letters to the editor
I ask your readers to be an ordinary person doing extraordinary things to help us continue to bring economic relief to people who are barely able to function in these difficult times.
We have been deeply saddened that right now, when we need help the most, hardly any help has been coming our way. Donations have come to a trickle; shopping at our Glen Ellyn store has been sporadic and unpredictable; and the calls for aid keep pouring in as we have never seen before.
We are overwhelmed and need people to become a partner in making a difference in the lives of our neighbors who have fallen on hard times due to no fault of their own.
We currently have 15 families facing electric shutoffs. They were sent to us by other agencies that could not help hoping we would be their last resource. In the past, we were, but not now.
The need is GREAT. Our clients see the job market is cutting down in every sector -- even health care has been drastically cut. Some of our clients are getting 10 hours a week, down from 30-40 hours. An employment agency that specialized in high tech has had to turn to collection and health work jobs, as there aren't enough jobs in computer services .
We have hopes that the economy will rebound; however, right now the situation is truly horrific. How can a mother of four keep a roof over her kids with $600 a month in income?
Help us keep our utility aid program alive so families with children don't have to be without water, electric or heat for weeks; help us build a food gift card program for those who have special dietary needs and can't eat canned food, or those waiting for food stamps for weeks and are without adequate food. Help us repair cars and donate gas cards so people don't have to miss work.
Every penny of your donation goes to our clients. Please make it possible to continue helping. Adopt a family, donate funds or purchase food and gas cards for our clients. Shop at our gorgeous Glen Ellyn store so we can build up a training program for disabled women. Your aid is tax deductible.
Chana Bernstein
President
SARET Charitable Fund
Glen Ellyn
As Sen. Charles Schumer said, the conditions for a trigger have already passed, as the health "insurance" companies have ratcheted up prices as they've duped Americans with denial of claims and other frauds.
Remember that we voted for CHANGE, and NOT a continuation of the status quo. We need universal health care, NOT universal mandatory insurance.
If you're going to pass the latter without a strong public option, you will have made our health crisis that much worse. Such an outcome would only enshrine the corrupt insurance companies without forcing them to do anything beneficial for the public.
Oleh Sydor
Glen Ellyn
