Unfettered Letters

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

Thanks, Kansas City Southern Railway

As a former employee of the Kansas City Southern Railway Company, I was delighted to read of the warm, wonderful Christmas wish they fulfilled for little Santos Arreola onboard the “Southern Belle” Christmas train (12/25, A-1, “His own ‘Polar Express’ ”).

The generosity of Kansas City Southern and its employees during the holiday season was very evident in this touching story.

Charles Pitcher
Lee’s Summit

U.S. a melting pot of kindness

Picture this: a 70-year-old, retired TWA pilot, two heart attacks, six stents, a couple of prostate procedures and a repaired hernia, taking a walk the day after Christmas.

After about a mile and a half, the old man is faced with climbing a pretty steep hill. A thought: Why not rest on this old tree stump before tackling the hill?

While resting, the old guy notices a blue Honda van pass, do a U-turn and return to his position. The Hispanic lady and her two children went out of their way to check on the old guy and also offer him a ride home.

Ah! This good ol’ U.S. of A. Only in America. Enough said.

Thank you again, ma’am.

John Crone
Shawnee

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

Wallet’s return shows that people are good

A sincere and heartfelt thank you to the person who found my wallet in the Belton QuikTrip parking lot and turned it in on Dec. 10.

You are a perfect example of my belief in the basic goodness in people. God bless you.

Patricia McCollum
Peculiar

Bank donates bears to homeless children

Not all banks are cold and indifferent to their communities and cities.

On Nov. 22, the Bank of the West near 87th and Pflumm in Lenexa donated more than 100 toy bears to homeless children in the old Northeast area in Kansas City.

Santa Claus passed out the bears to many kids who may not receive another Christmas gift this year. The kids hugged their bears as adults would protect a very expensive gift.

The next time you are near 87th and Pflumm, stop in and thank Jeannie Martin and the other great employees of the Bank of the West for a sincere act of kindness toward the homeless kids of our city.

Joe and Lorene Thomason
Lenexa

To ‘Tom from Lee’s Summit’ …

Recently I went to a sandwich shop for lunch. When I was about to pay for my sandwich, the waitress mentioned to me that it had been paid for by the gentleman who had been immediately ahead of me in line. The waitress mentioned to me that this gentleman pays for lunches for other people there quite frequently.

I approached this man to shake his hand and say “thanks so much.” Asking his name, he mentioned to me he was “Tom from Lee’s Summit” and said “God bless you.” I assumed he wanted to not mention his last name and let his act of kindness remain “private” to him.

Immediately after I left there I phoned my wife and shared with her what happened. She called me back a few minutes later and told me someone she worked with had this same thing happen to them by this same gentleman at another restaurant in the town where we live.

To Tom, you left me virtually speechless by this act of kindness, greatly impacted my life and made my day. Thanks, Tom! May God bless you.

God places wonderful people in our lives.

Brian Bell
Nevada, Mo.

Kind stranger pays for groceries

I’m an 81-year-old widow. On a recent Saturday I shopped at Target. At the checkout counter I reached into my purse to get my credit card. It was gone, and so was my checkbook. I told the cashier, “This is not going to ruin my day!” She put my three bags aside until I came back with the payment.

As I was getting into my car, a woman called to me: “Here are your groceries.” Assuming she had been behind me at the checkout and thought I had forgotten them, I said, “Thank you, but I have not paid for them.” She replied. “I did.”

I asked for her name, but she refused. I called after her, “God bless you,” and drove home with tears in my eyes.

That incident was a jolt. It happened for a reason. I’m waiting with trembles for God to point out what my payback opportunity will be.

P.S. I found my credit card and bank book where I left them.

Gayle Spellman
Lenexa

Wichitan grateful for good deed

At a friend’s funeral last month, I made a memorial gift contribution to a foundation that has an office in Kansas City. I gave it to the mortuary staff, but somehow it ended up in the mailbox of one of your citizens.

Imagine my surprise when I found it returned to me the other day. As the anonymous note stated, I never would have known that it nearly disappeared.

Thank you, whoever you are, for your thoughtfulness. If you ever come to Wichita, lunch is on me.

Patty Lane
Wichita

A wagonload of kindness

On Oct. 3, my wife and I were at Home Depot. We had purchased two bags of decorative rock and had them on a flat wagon. We were standing behind our car waiting for the person from Home Depot to load them into our car when a young lady in a Lincoln Navigator stopped and asked if she could help us.

We are old and arthritic, and this young lady was kind enough to offer to help us. I was overwhelmed at her generosity. I thanked her and told her the person was coming to help us, so she left.

I just want her to know how much we admire people like her in today’s world, where it sometimes seems kindness is rare.

Bill Millsap
Bonner Springs