Community Center
Dear Editor: While listening to the Assembly meeting Tuesday night, I was heartened to hear two ‘‘persons to be heard’’ mention the Presbyterian Church as a shelter, the purchase price now lowered, as a potential use for the CARES money.
As a matter of fact, when a community takes care of its most vulnerable residents, the town flourishes. Theft, crime, vandalism diminish when people’s basic needs are met. I would publicly like to thank Dr. Wein for clarifying in the minutes to specify meth, to which I had spoken at the previous meeting, and not just ‘‘drugs.’’ The increasing meth use in our town must not be homogenized with other drugs, alcohol or substances for which there are remedies. So, here is a concept, Sitka, with complete community involvement including the Unified Command, that might be considered as a very real potential to help our fellow citizens, as the fundamental human needs for shelter, food and intervention are becoming more urgent due to the current pandemic.
A Community Center, a landing pad and clearinghouse, with shelter for the homeless, treatment and referrals for the meth addict, food bank and soup kitchen. If the city were to purchase the building with the CARES funds, it would take a nonprofit, or several, to administer the services that it could provide. If the city, SEARHC, Sitka Tribe, SCAPS and the Salvation Army were to partner as funders or staff with the help of the Sitka Homeless Coalition, SOS, all the churches, any other interested entities and volunteer community members to provide a place to empower our youth to care for each other, to have a place to go to seek help, to shelter both men and women, and to provide food and meals to those in need would be a very beautiful endeavor.
The building is large enough to do it all, I realize it is a ‘‘huge’’ undertaking, and that there will be resistance, but I believe it is doable with full community support and assistance. As a secondary benefit, the historic building would be preserved to function in several of its intended purposes. I am willing to work toward this end, and engage in dialog to figure out first steps.
Anyone interested in this concept please call me at 747-7803, leave your number on the message machine, if I’m not home, and I will return the call.
Let’s put our heads and hearts together.
Karen Lucas, Sitka
