Today's letters: Readers comment on helping children during the holidays and more

Helping children

Anyone who has been separated from their family at Christmas time knows how hard it is, whether because of work, school, a tour in the military or through foster placement for a child. It’s hard enough for anyone to be away from their families during the holidays, but imagine you were taken away from your family for no fault of your own. Now, most foster families are good caring families, but they’re not your family.

To help bring a little joy into a child’s life, Central Christen Church boxes up in plastic shoe boxes some Christmas joy in the way of toys, games and gift cards for infants up to teenagers. Central has been doing this for about 15 years — no one really knows for how long.

Most foster kids don’t get much in the way of extras, so our church tries to help with school supplies, candy at harvest time and the toy boxes at Christmas. One almost feels like a kid again buying the toys. My wife likes to give Barbie dolls and hair things; I like to give Hot Wheels and things like Uno games.

Central gave away about 300 of these boxes this year. Our youth minister, Josh Reed, said that some people filled up five boxes to brighten a kid’s life. I don’t have to tell you these are extraordinary times and the government can’t do everything. So, churches need to step up with their many community ministries.

Christ said, “Truly I tell you, what you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40,45, NIV).

Joseph F. Moia, Ocala

Jarring reminder

In response to the recent article “7 days of 1961,” what a timely reminder of our not-that-distant past! Just an outstanding piece by USA Today.

It was a jarring reminder of our history, with all of the histrionics by our governor and education commissioner about the threat to our students who might be exposed to "critical race theory" in our schools (where it is not taught). Heaven forbid that they might actually learn the truth!

Bob Troy, On Top of The World

And so it goes

Considering I’m urged to get protected by getting the vaccines, which I have, why would I allow a first responder to enter my home to save me and they are not protected to save me? Seems like a death sentence.

I don’t get the public servers refusing to do their jobs. If that is your belief — religious or personal — move on. Save it for those who believe you care about us — the public — over your personal issues.

And so it goes ...

Frank Bizjack, Ocala

Why?

I read with interest in the opinion section in the Ocala Star-Banner that our two U.S. senators and our U.S. congressman representing the city of Ocala voted against the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, as they had before it against the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, the economic stimulus bill that powered the economy forward through the pandemic early on. They’ve also fought against the Affordable Care Act every step of the way, leaving an estimated 2.8 million Floridians without health insurance.

So, I am thinking, why would our elected representative and our two elected senators vote against popular nationwide programs such as these that would certainly benefit many of our residents?

John Schaefer, Ocala 

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