I am a resident of Retired Tigers and have lived in this area all my life. I work part-time as a secretary at the Kosciusko Community Senior Services office in the Pete Thorn Building with Carol Kreis, and also where my former boss, April Baxter, works as the SAC director.
My quandary is the fact that many people here on a fixed income due to being retired or disabled are unable to get services from the Division of Family Resources, better know as the welfare office.
The people living here contributed to the system all their lives. Now that things are rough for them, and getting rougher, they are told they either do not qualify for food stamps, Medicaid, etc., yet people who are not even citizens get hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of food stamps, Medicaid assistance, etc.
It is not that I am prejudiced against these people, but why are we not first taking care of the people who made this great nation what it is today? You politicians say we are not in a recession. Walk in the shoes of the retired U.S. citizens or those in disability trying to live on the incomes they have and take care of themselves, and then let us know if you still think there is no recession. It seems like natural U.S. citizens are being neglected.
Kosciusko County has dozens of orthopedic businesses. Why is it with the revenue they make in this area that someone on as low of a total annual income of $6,000 is not eligible for any more than $10 a month in food stamps? This is only one example of what is actually going on with the welfare system in Kosciusko County.
I do not want to hear excuses for what the reasoning behind this is. Excuses will not buy these people food or help with the medical care they need. It is time those of us who are disgusted with such things make our voices known to those who can change things. If we do not express our disapproval, no changes will take place. Make your thoughts known to those able to change things for the better. You could very well be on the receiving end of the benefit of change some day.
I get the Times-Union, Mr. Gerard, here where I live on a daily basis. I am sure you are familiar with Don Kaiser, who often writes articles that you print. I am thankful to you and your staff for the effort you go to in order to make sure that we have local, national and world news and events. Keep up the good work.
