Unfettered Letters

Thank you, KCP&L

On behalf of the boys from the Gillis Center, who had a wonderful time attending the Monster Car/Truck event at Sprint Center last weekend, I would like to thank KCP&L. The tickets they donated to Gillis enabled these young men to have a fun-filled outing that would not have been possible without KCP&L’s support.

Our boys felt very special to be able to attend such an exciting event away from the residential cottages where they live full-time on the Gillis campus. The opportunity to participate in “field trips” like this brings great joy into the lives of our kids and helps them in their ongoing efforts to overcome personal and family-related challenges.

Many thanks to KCP&L for caring about our boys at Gillis and the many other children in need in Kansas City.

Mary Ellen Schaid
President and CEO, Gillis Center for Children & Families
Kansas City

Holiday spirit rings a bell

Several weeks ago I rang a Salvation Army bell in a prosperous shopping mall. People of all ages and walks of life dropped money into my red kettle. As I thanked each one, I began to have feelings of joy. Some people smiled shyly, others gruffly looked away and mumbled, “You’re welcome.” Others repeated my enthusiastic, “Merry Christmas.”

Children wanted to put something in the kettle. They pulled on their parents’ hands, pointing to the kettle. Sometimes I had to tip the kettle so they could reach it. Grandparents gave their grandchildren coins or bills. One little boy cried, “But I wanted bubble gum.” When I thanked him, he stopped crying and smiled.

Last year when I was bell-ringing, I thought of the Iraqi families experiencing terror and death and destruction. Tears came to my eyes as I realized how fortunate we are in the safety of our country.

Despite the noise of the mall, my small bell sent its Christmas message. People responded generously. As I left, I knew joy would remain in my heart until next year’s bell ringing. For those who heard the bell and gave, I hope some of the Christmas spirit stays with them also.

Nancy Cramer
Kansas City

Carl Peterson’s departure

Adam Teicher wrote that Carl Peterson said, “It just looked more and more like it was the right time to make a change. I’m very comfortable with it. If I’m the owner, I don’t want the president/general manager/CEO to get into his lame-duck year” (1/7, Sports).

Carl, with us fans, you were in your lame-duck year for many years. Goodbye and good luck.

John J. Phillips
Lenexa

Joe Posnanski mentions how Carl Peterson made sure Chiefs players were involved in the community (1/7, A-1, “Chiefs’ ex-president goes out with emotion and criticism”). Certainly many organizations have benefited from that involvement, but it’s important to point out that Carl and Lori Peterson have also personally affected many local charities.

For more than a dozen years, Carl and Lori headed up Chiefs Night, an annual event to benefit the Arthritis Foundation’s Western Missouri/Greater Kansas City Chapter. Lori was personally involved in planning the event, which cumulatively raised well over $1 million for the Arthritis Foundation. But she also increased awareness of the organization’s mission and the seriousness of arthritis.

This was Lori’s baby, but Carl made sure the players were present to meet the fans who’d come to see them.

As longtime Arthritis Foundation volunteers, we extend our sincere gratitude to Lori and Carl Peterson for their support of the Arthritis Foundation and other community charities.

Andrea and Steve Byrne
Leawood

Sister Berta Sailer a ‘voice for voiceless’

Sister Berta Sailer (1/4, Opinion, “As I See It: You can help KC’s poor children”) is truly a voice for the voiceless. I have known and worked with Sister Berta for many years. She is tenacious and dogged about speaking out for her children and their families.

Yes, Kansas City, there is extreme poverty in our community, and it affects many of our children. Get involved and see the impact of poverty on our children. This economic downturn will touch all of our lives, but it will ravage our poor children and their families. You can make a difference!

May God continue to bless Sister Berta, her staff, all associated with Operation Breakthrough and the many people in our community who work on behalf of the poor. They are good for the children.

James M. Caccamo
Director, Department of early learning, Mid-America Regional Council
Kansas City

Donated toys appreciated

I just want to thank everyone who has ever taken the time to drop off a toy at a local thrift store. The last couple of years have been tough with my wife being the only one working. Christmas didn’t look too good, but the wife and I visited the local thrift store and, along with the Salvation Army Angel adopters, you guys made for a very nice Christmas for the kids. Thank you so much.

The love and generosity shown to our family is just amazing. I don’t know what else to say but thank you and God bless every one of you.

Leon F. Wilson Sr.
Kansas City

Corporate ‘charity’

Take away the corporate income tax deduction for charitable giving, supporting the arts and limit the advertising budget. Do not let the corporations buy the rights to name stadiums or lease suites. Force the companies to use that money for salaries and health care, and we would not need charity, food kitchens and Medicaid. People could earn a living wage and take care of themselves and be there for their families. More people could attend the arts, and they would not need donations.

The corporations get accolades for giving so much to charity, when through their own corporate greed they have created the problem to begin with. Put people to work. Give us all hope.

Corporations forgot about taking care of Americans while they were moving our jobs out of the country and lowering our wages and benefits. If we are not paid a living wage, we cannot buy the products.

American workers, unite! Don’t let jealousy and greed divide us.

Beth Boerger
Kansas City

Thrift stores save money, landfill space

The Star’s article “Green execs sprout up,” (12/23, Business) did a great job reporting on organizations increasingly realizing the importance of “going green.” Chief sustainability officers will continue to play a vital role not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it can be profitable as well.

One vital avenue that was not mentioned, however, was the ultimate green opportunity to donate usable items to organizations that operate thrift stores. For instance, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas TurnStyles thrift store receives more than 12,000 loads a year of unwanted but usable, good-quality items, while serving more than 3,000 customers per week.

Organizations, including UPS, Sprint, Embarq, Marriott Downtown, Costco, Wal-Mart, Target and LabOne, regularly provide good-quality items that are resold or given to clients in need, saving consumers millions of dollars and providing much-needed revenue to help financially support numerous charitable programs in our community.

Companies are able to reduce landfill expenses, save people money and receive recognition in the marketplace. In this tough economic period, that just makes perfect sense.

Doug Clopton
Director of in-kind donations, Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas
Overland Park

Another angel helps the ‘angels’

My church participates in the Angel Tree program each year. Since the time my daughter was 6 years old, we have selected three or four “angels” from the tree and buy gifts for children of prisoners.

We were shopping for Angel Tree gifts at J.C. Penney Outlet Store on the Monday evening before Thanksgiving. We passed a young woman who was sitting in the catalog return section. She had no merchandise or a cart, appearing to be waiting for someone. She noticed the angel cards we were holding, and I explained the Angel Tree project.

I continued down the aisle. Suddenly, the woman came running toward me, thrusting three $20 bills into my hand. “This is for the Angel Tree kids.” Shocked, I told her it was too much, but she insisted I take it.

So, whoever you are, beautiful lady, I want you to know that four more angels received gifts this year.

Sophia and Rosemary Harris
Lenexa

Christmas in October helpers are gifts to KC

With abundant news of an uncertain and sometimes frightening economic climate and its challenges, we are pleased to bring some positive news to your attention: The phenomenal success of a homegrown, neighbor-helping-neighbor program, Christmas in October.

Celebrating 25 years in 2009, CIO has enabled thousands of Kansas City’s most deserving residents to remain in their homes with dignity.

In 2008, more than 2,500 members of our community enjoyed the fruits of the labors of more than 600 union volunteers and 5,000 others who made more than 500 homes safer, warmer and more livable. Work was completed on seven community centers as well. These efforts have been ongoing — and growing — in each of the 24 years of CIO.

Thank you, Kansas City, for making Christmas in October the largest and most successful of its kind in the nation.

We have our own hometown heroes among us, the CIO volunteers who work tirelessly each year to help others who cannot help themselves: the elderly, disabled and needy, who need assistance now more than ever.

We appreciate everything you do to make our hometown such an incredibly caring and giving community.

John McMeel and Dick Miller
Co-founders, Christmas in October
Kansas City

Tom Redmond
Executive director, Christmas in October
Kansas City

Generosity knows no income limits

On Sunday, two of my grandsons and I joined many others at the Salvation Army to deliver gifts and Christmas cheer to shut-ins.

We delivered our gifts in a high-rise apartment subsidized by government for citizens with physical disabilities and economic limitations.

As we walked down the hallway after a delivery, an elderly man came out of his apartment and called to us. We returned to him, and he pressed into my hand a five-dollar bill to contribute to the Salvation Army in appreciation for all they have done to help him and others.

It was such an extremely heartwarming example of generosity on the part of a kind gentleman who wanted also to be a part of the gift of sharing.

May God bless him and all the kindhearted people we had the privilege to meet that day.

Delia Tankard
Leawood