Wording, helping animals, hot pizza and Perriello

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: September 4, 2008

It was the way they said it in that letter

To the editor:

Do any of you have a very sick wife or husband or other family member? Are you that person’s sole caregiver?

The state of Virginia has a fund that pays caregivers a few dollars for taking care of another without charge to that person. It is called the Virginia Caregivers Grant. Well, this year the state’s budget doesn’t have enough money to make grants to the caregivers, so the Department of Social Services sent out a letter to all the people that filed for the grant saying they were sorry. But the letter went on to say hey, why don’t you apply for the economic stimulus tax rebate from the IRS?

Then the letter goes on to thank each of the caregivers for what they have done by tending to the sick and how much it means to the state and the community. Well, it really means nothing to the Virginia Department of Social Services.

It is not so bad being denied this grant, but it’s an insult to people by telling them to sign up for something (the tax rebate) knowing this has already been done, I am sure, by everyone eligible and then thanking them for doing such a good job being a caregiver.

I don’t mind waiting on my wife. She has kidney failure and is sick beyond description and I really don’t expect a reward and I am sure that anyone who loves their family member will do the same. But what does the federal tax rebate have to do with the Virginia Caregivers Grant?

I have watched over her every day and night as if I were her guardian angel. If you love someone, you will. I wish I had never heard of the state grant. Our family doctor told me about it, so I filled out the forms, and now this letter’s wording has made me feel like a beggar and a fool.

Things are getting tougher for me and my wife, as I am eaten up with arthritis and had to stop working a profession I dearly loved. This disease (arthritis) makes it harder for me to help her. Who helps me help her? Nobody. Just remember folks, one day someone you love may become deathly ill and you will be alone with no help — especially from a state that’s so broke. You might get a thank you letter from them — and a form to file for a federal tax rebate.

JAMES BAILEY

To the editor:

We have recently formed a group concerned with the welfare of the animals at the Pittsylvania County Animal Control shelter.

Our goals include improving the conditions at the facility, increasing adoptions, reducing the number of animals euthanized and assisting the staff with administrative responsibilities.

We would like to invite everyone interested to attend our meeting Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at Emmanuel Episcopal Church on Main Street in Chatham.

Help is needed in many capacities.

We have invited the members of the Board of Supervisors to attend. Their support is very important. Inquiries can be made to

TONJA REYNOLDS

To the editor:

Another pizza delivery man was just robbed. Last week, it was a pizza delivery driver and a cab driver.

These companies should refuse to deliver to the parts of the city or surrounding areas where trouble seems to bloom after dusk. No driver should be put in harm’s way. Pizza could be delivered earlier or picked up by the customer.

I realize that a job is a precious thing these days, but being injured or killed is not worth it.

FAITH HYLER

To the editor:

Outside of the debate over experience in the presidential campaign, we have two candidates for Congress this year who have two very different life stories.

When Tom Perriello graduated from law school, he went to Liberia and Sierra Leone, where he worked for the international prosecutor, successfully forcing the dictator Charles Taylor from power without firing a single shot. Following his work there, Tom went on to Darfur and Afghanistan serving as a national security analyst.

If you’re wondering what Perriello has done for us here at home, he helped found faith- based non-profit groups which have fought for issues like children’s health care and a higher minimum wage. His campaign alone has already contributed more than 500 hours of community service to food banks, Habitat for Humanity, and other organizations in the 5th District. And already he has announced his seven-point plan for economic revival here in the 5th District.

Tom is serious about fighting for those who need help the most, and his career reflects that. He has never run for office before and is not a lifelong politician like his opponent, Virgil Goode. Right out of law school, Goode ran for office and has been there since, spending the past 30 years as an elected official. It is embarrassing to think of all those years of Washington expertise and a seat on the Appropriations Committee and he has accomplished less for Southside than Mark Warner was able to achieve in just one term as governor.

We need real world experience and new leaders, not the same old failed ideas from the same old politicians. If we want the most accomplished candidate to represent us in Congress, Tom Perriello will need our votes.

RYAN SHIELDS

Danville