Et Cetera …
Kudos to foster parents
May is National Foster Care Month, and Martin and Faribault counties are among the entities noting the contributions of foster care families, which offer safe haven to children and give them hope for better futures. There are just 15 licensed child foster homes in the two counties, but they make a difference every day.
Foster parents are in great need now, because there are many kids going into foster care. We encourage anyone interested in being a foster parent to contact social worker Bethany Jobe at (507) 526-3265 or at bethany.jobe@FMCHS.com
Looking for new leaders
The Leadership Martin County program recently graduated another 18 participants. Kudos to the graduates and to program organizers.
Leadership Martin County is a cooperative effort of the Fairmont Area Chamber of Commerce and Riverland Community College. It began about eight years ago to develop community leaders. It does so by informing them about the workings of the county they live in and by honing their leadership skills.
We encourage others to consider joining the program. Call the Chamber at (507) 235-5547 for more information.
Group aims to feed kids
A new group has formed in Fairmont to help ensure that children have enough to eat during the summer. During the school year, children in need can get free lunches at school. There is also a backpack program that sends home food with students for the weekend. But summer is a different story. There is nothing set up to get food to kids, and there is no place they centrally gather to reach them.
Those individuals and groups involved in this summer food effort deserve praise for wanting to make sure kids have a basic necessity. We hope the community will support the cause as more plans develop.
Bad decisions hurt all
Public health threats always exist, but the strides our society has made in preventing and eradicating disease should not be put in jeopardy because of irrational whims. Disease affects everyone, not just those who mistakenly believe that vaccines are somehow harmful.
Some Minnesota lawmakers want to require parents to go over vaccine safety information with a doctor before they can opt out of vaccinating their child. This is not even enough. Parental “rights” should not extend to making poor decisions that lead to outbreaks, such as the current measles problem in Minnesota.
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