The news last week rightly included the city of Sanford and its response to the asylum seekers who arrived seeking safety. They arrived in multiple groups and at varying times: men, women and children. As expected, much behind-the-scenes work went on. But something that was concerning to me was the untrue and harmful light that the city and organizations used to frame the volunteers of Sanford, who rose to a critical need that, at that weekend hour, could not be met via typical avenues.
Usually when community members rise to such a challenge, they are thanked. That is not what happened here. Volunteers were condemned and villainized. In the evening hours of a weekend they put their personal, family and work lives on hold and did what holy books say to do. Since city offices and organizations were closed and not responding to calls and emails, they responded. Rather than throw their hands up and walk away, they fed, housed and helped.
We need to be very clear that they did not bring people to Sanford. They did not traffic humans. They responded to a human need in front of them.
I, for one, want to say thank you. Who would think that we live in a time and place where helping those in need is condemned?
Mary Dunn
Whitefield
Send questions/comments to the editors.
