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Letter: Is there a will to help others?

There are churches, food banks, some low rent options but, is there the will to help in Penticton?
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Penticton Western News letters to the editor.

I moved to Okanagan Falls in 2010 and more recently moved into Penticton where I have worked and shopped since 2010.

I was once homeless, though employed and working (not long thankfully) when I lived in the Lower Mainland. I was unfairly evicted by my friend and roommate and the landlords just let it happen, though they showed some kindness to me while I was packing up.

My home church, once I confessed to them, was there for me in almost every conceivable way. I had shelter in the church, was helped with moving, groceries and finding my next household. Love, most of all, was what they showed me.

Now, I had been a member of the church for a while, was baptized as an adult there and served with my whole heart prior to that trial so their helpfulness may not seem too surprising. Would I have been so fortunate if it had happened in Penticton? There are churches, food banks here, some low rent options but, is there the will to help?

My church in Okanagan Falls was there for me, especially through surgery for a hernia but small churches have only so much in the way of immediate resources. What can and will be done for the people of Carmi Hill?

On another note, do Penticton residents love their city? If so, why is there so much litter, idling of cars, dumping of trash in shopping centre parking lots?

Do you hate WalMart and dump your garbage and cigarettes for that reason? Is that why you race through intersections, narrowly avoiding collisions with other cars, cyclists and pedestrians?

Patrick Longworth

Penticton