Reporting on Care Day

I am writing to share my disappointment in your reflection of the United Way Community Care Day (“Lower Turnout but High Energy Mark Care Day”) published Sept. 22. Your article chose to portray a negative experience rather than the commitment and enthusiasm of the more than 1,000 volunteers who willingly gave their time and energy. Each volunteer gave a personal gift of sharing and investment in the improvement of our community.

Every activity has some element that can be improved or enhanced.

What was the point of the article? Was the interest to downplay the effort? It certainly seems so to me. I wonder why the article was slanted to disparage rather than recognize the effort and outreach to the community. I wonder why the article didn’t highlight the individuals who were up to their elbows in painting, weeding, planting and other activities. Their interest was improving the environments of schools and programs that assist children and families of communities across our great city of Los Angeles.

Pacific Lodge Youth Services was honored to host more than 150 volunteers of every age. I believe each participant was rewarded with a sense of accomplishment. They enjoyed new friendships and a camaraderie developed around community spirit. If any fault could be found, it must be in the fact that we don’t provide enough opportunities to rekindle the values of sharing and giving to one another, which were so prevalent in the days of barn raisings.

This was good news that got painted out to be bad news. What a shame!

DAVID M. GENDERS

Woodland Hills

Genders is president and chief executive officer of Pacific Lodge Youth Services.