Emmaus House fills a need

Recently, you printed a letter by Bob Petrus that was quite critical of Emmaus House, a homeless shelter/soup kitchen/food bank that has served Garden City for almost 30 years. Emmaus House is a not-for-profit organization that provides services for the homeless and chronically poor. Oversight comes from a board of directors of representatives from most local churches. As board members representing various churches, we are familiar with Emmaus House and how it functions. As regular volunteers there, we are committed to and do believe in what¬ Emmaus House¬ does and stands for.

First of all, Emmaus House is a homeless shelter. We do provide temporary shelter (housing) for homeless people. At one time we did have a "three-day" rule. However, that rule has been modified and in part scrapped. Today, any homeless indigent who seeks to stay at Emmaus House is expected to try to better himself/herself by searching for employment. Those who choose not to are subject to the three-day rule, which means they will be put up for three days then expected to move on. Emmaus House always has been a temporary shelter. We do not charge anything. We encourage residents to get back on their feet, and help as much as we can.

Because Emmaus House is also a soup kitchen, it has a large industrial-size kitchen where paid employees cook most of the time during the day. Food is served at a table to house guests and others who lack facilities to prepare their own meals, and is also distributed to poor families who come to us. Due to work in the house, guests are generally asked to not hang around during the day. With regard to specific house guests, Emmaus House recognizes their privacy, so we cannot comment on specific guests or situations. Suffice it to say we have every confidence in our director and staff to make exceptions to this rule in the compassion that we recognize in them.

Emmaus House is also a food bank, with food boxes distributed to individuals and families who have facilities to prepare meals, but still are in need. Emmaus House staff make every effort, while recognizing the dignity of each individual, to verify need before people receive food boxes.

As far as alleged comments about staying in business, we would respond by stating Emmaus House is barely able to keep up with demand. We would like nothing better than to be put out of business for lack of need. However, given human nature, this is not likely to happen. We cannot picture Robin Marsh, the¬ Emmaus House¬ executive director, making the comment in the way it was attributed to her. We do also have every confidence in Robin and in her management style that any Emmaus House¬ staff or volunteers¬ who dealt rudely with individuals either as guests, patrons, volunteers or donors would be dealt with appropriately.

Emmaus House continues to be an openly Christian organization that provides a necessary service in the love of Jesus Christ, which is obvious to anyone who observes our activities. Observers are always welcome, with the one warning that volunteers are always needed and encouraged. Stepping Stone in Liberal is a very good homeless shelter as well.

ALAN CHEATUM, GARY FULLER, VON HUNN, SARAH GERBER, RICHARD HODSON, PIA MAUPIN, RON MAJOR, VERN PFEIFER, BOYD FUNK

The preceding are members of the Emmaus House Board of Directors.

Poor decisions at all levels

It is time for those who are unhappy with the procedures being applied to property tax valuations, problems like valuation increases on some properties and reduction on other properties, refunding more than $5 million because of overtaxing, and the spending of those tax dollars while not addressing blind corners, trash, street markings and inconsistent street signals and the ever continual subject of hiring more people to help run the city and county businesses.

In the June 3 Telegram, the article on budget increase requests has information that needs to be addressed. One is the Finney County Appraiser's increase in income and No. 2 is hiring of McCully Associates. This service helps verify the county appraisal process. What's to help? If the regulations are that difficult to understand, maybe we need the state Legislature to re-write these regulations, or pay one of our local attorneys to research and give an opinion. That would keep our money local instead of going out of state.

We need people to step up to the plate and run for city and county commission positions as they come available. People who know spending tax dollars will not create economic growth and that real economic growth comes from not only local marketing but also nationwide marketing from naturally produced or manufactured products. Tax dollars are to be used for community services, and those services do not include giving money to probably the largest profit-maker in the county, nor does it include giving money to any established business, commercial or manufacturing.What tax money should do is present an opportunity for investors to become involved in these opportunities that become available for businesses and manufacturing start up and growth.

HAROLD STARR,

Garden City