Help at home

To the editor:

I have been watching a lot about the tsunami and the efforts of the world to help out those in the areas that were hit. People are collecting goods, money and anything else that can be sent to help out. I think it’s great that people are wanting to help out. BUT … when do we start helping out those who are in need on our own American soil?

Just the other day, the Journal-World ran an article about a gentleman who was injured at work and is now raising two small children alone. He is in need of help, but the only help he is getting is from local agencies. There are millions of people here in our own country that need help, and they get very little of it. Our elderly can’t afford to buy the medications they need; we have children starving, people unable to pay their bills due to layoffs because their job was sent out of the country.

Who is helping these people? Are other countries sending money to help them? Are the people in their own country helping them? I’m all for helping out other countries, but when do we start helping out our own? When was the last time another country came to the aid of the United States when we had a natural disaster? Some wonder if the United States is doing enough for the tsunami victims. But I guess the better question is: Are we doing enough for those in need on American soil?

Kelli Church,

Lawrence