To the editor:

Under the leadership of Steve Ozark, the co-chairman of the Coalition on Homeless Concerns, and through the sacrifices of caring citizens and certain churches, Lawrence has come a long way in alleviating some of the suffering of some of our homeless citizens.

Today, in the United States, there are 13 million children (tomorrow’s homeless) on the verge of hunger. Many children live in single-parent homes.

Regularly, we read or hear of children being abused verbally and or physically.

Who will step forward on their behalf?

Perhaps no one has been more successful than our very own Melissa “Missy” Taylor who grew up in this city and graduated from Kansas University and who recently was chosen to receive the most prestigious Sandra Day O’Connor Award.

Miss Taylor’s contributions as an attorney in the areas of public service and pro bono activities have made her deserving of this national recognition.

If we hope (someday) to have people no longer dying on our streets while sleeping in inclement weather, and if we wish to eliminate citizens sleeping on downtown rooftops in freezing weather, then we must begin today to protect our under-represented children, their programs and their principles.

Let’s hope more attorneys across this land will become part of pro bono youth, mentoring and community service.

I’m thankful to have Missy leading the way promoting justice for society’s unrepresented.

Mary Siegrist,

Lawrence