To the editor:

“It takes a village” is a common phrase that means no one lives this life fully on their own. We live in an interconnected web of many people impacting our lives. We teach preschoolers about “community helpers,” people we look to for help.

Many community helpers have felt and sometimes literally have been under attack in recent years, including teachers, health care workers, police and emergency workers, and even county election workers.

Douglas County Clerk Jamie Shew informed the audience at the July 8 Women for Kansas public meeting that 40% of county clerks in Kansas have resigned in the last two years. Arizona has lost most of its county clerks, and so has Pennsylvania.

Sometimes entire county election office staffs have resigned. There is a mental health crisis among county clerks and election workers across the country. The same could be said for health care workers and teachers.

Let’s turn this attack around. Advance voting has begun for the Aug. 1 primary election. If you go to the elections office, take a moment to thank the workers and let them know they are appreciated. Or send a note of thanks.

Let’s support our hard-working community helpers, including those who work to provide secure elections.

Kelly Wall,

Lawrence