Support needed

Dear sir:
Sometime ago, a letter had been written to you questioning whether anything could be done to “help the kids hanging around the pool hall,” since it appeared that those young persons complained of having nothing to do.
The author of that letter wrote it in the context of the “Ice for Kids” issue that our local town council had to deal with. I formed the impression, after reading the letter, that the author may not have been too pleased with the accomplishments of our town council on that issue.
I, too, agree that provisions should be made for the young people of our town to allow them an outlet for their energies, in the absence of their ability to afford involvement in any organized type of community activity. However, I am not so certain that this obligation should necessarily fall entirely (or even partially) onto the shoulders of our council members, although I would certainly not discourage them from taking any positive action on this issue.
Instead, I would like to advise your readers of one of the ministry goals of our local Salvation Army Corps.
The Salvation Army, as some seem to forget, is, in fact, a church, not just a social agency. Locally, Lt. Wendy and Lt. Michael Cumben have a dream to establish a teen drop-in centre, be it at the Victoria Avenue Salvation Army Citadel or elsewhere in our town that may be available. This goal is a true and sincere ministry on their part; an outreach program, if you will, of their church.
If you just speak to Wendy or Michael about this, you will readily determine just how sincere they are in starting this activity as one means of outwardly displaying, in a practical way, the Biblical urgings of caring for others. Caring for our young people is as important as caring for the elderly and needy who daily turn to the Salvation Army for assistance.
However, given the limited financial resources for the operation of the ongoing services of the local Salvation Army, it is obvious that, to establish such a teen drop-in centre, additional funds will be needed.
I agree that more can be provided for our young people. If others are like-minded, I would encourage you to call the Salvation Army at 274-3871 to find out more about its desire to reach out to them, and to determine how you can help in order to end this dream by making it a reality.
We already have the personnel ready to take on this project. All we need now is the community’s support.
Yours truly,
Kenneth Koprowski,
Chairman,
Salvation Army
Advisory Board