To the editor:

Recently, about a hundred volunteers and friends of the Lawrence Community Shelter and DARE Center — both organizations started by Loring Henderson — gathered to celebrate his retirement at age 85 and his impact on their lives and on the community. Loring has always held a magnetic attraction, both for the needy and for their helpers. A mystique, if you will.

So what, exactly, is the Loring Mystique? Grounded in his Quaker faith (“There is that of God in everyone”), Loring exudes a deep respect for each individual, an unspoken but palpable conviction: “You matter. You matter to me. You are important, and I am here to serve (or serve with) you.” A person could hand Loring anything for the DARE Center — a hundred dollar bill or a dollar bag of cookies — and he would respond the exact same way. He would crack a little half-smile, his dark eyes would sparkle, he would lean forward making eye contact and say quietly, “thank you.” The giver would know that their gift was important, valuable, duly noted. To Loring, each person and each kind act is a treasure.

Although the initiatives and direction are his, none of his endeavors become “The Henderson Show.” Instead, all efforts are a cooperative game: “Let’s-See-What-We-Can-Do-Together-to-Help-Folks!” He builds others up while often disappearing into the background. His “guests” actually think he is their servant! There you have it: The Loring Mystique.

Marilyn Pilkey,

Ottawa