Thank you for Matt McCuley’s July 16 letter and the idea that the time is now to figure out a community shelter for those in deep need.

My husband and I, and friends, have pondered this issue. In Matt’s words, “Giving a person a hand up, not a hand out,” is at the very core of this issue. Our community is as healthy and welcoming as the health and the inclusion of all our citizens; with all of our basic needs met. Everyone needs a home, needs food, needs health care and needs opportunities to be extended.

For a shelter to work it needs to be run on a volunteer “give back” basis. A paid coordinator would work with volunteers: volunteers from our community, volunteers from those in the shelter itself. Like Mother Theresa would say, “There are never enough hands,” and yet, look what can be accomplished and know what happiness can be brought into our community by young and old, serving the basic human needs of our neighbors and friends.

To take the first step in an action plan, we need to call a first meeting. If you feel drawn to serve, please call 675-3420 and leave your name and number and we can begin to organize.

Many blessings to us all.

Nitsah and

Michael Zylinsky

Oak Harbor