Letters: Trees, low-cost housing sacrificed for new retail and hotel space; Support nonprofits during Centre Gives

Editor’s note:The Centre Daily Times welcomes letters endorsing candidates in the June 2 primary election and will accept letters that are received by May 22. Election letters will be published through May 29. Letters are subject to editing, must be based on facts and should avoid attacks on other candidates. Letters of 250 words or fewer can be sent to cdtletters@centredaily.com.

Trees, low-cost housing sacrificed for new retail and hotel space

North Atherton Street disaster — it was the final blow. First the families were kicked out and their loving, supportive neighborhood was destroyed. Then the human services community rallied to help them find new, low-cost housing, which was not an easy task. Then, just the trees were left, filling the space that was full of memories. Now the birds are gone, the small critters are gone, and most of all, the trees are gone. I have driven on that stretch of North Atherton Street for the last time, and I certainly won’t visit any businesses that come into that space.

When low-cost housing is so desperately needed in Centre County and retail spaces sit empty in the borough and all the townships, it seems like somebody with money and a good heart would do something else instead of building more retail and hotel space.

The current pandemic may open some eyes to the need for not only saving trees, but saving the people who work at a woefully low minimum wage. The next time trees are destroyed, please build housing for these important people in our communities, and keep at least some of the trees.

Support nonprofits during Centre Gives

In this time of social distancing, we still have the opportunity to come together for the common good. We have Centre Gives. This easy to use, online fundraiser allows you to safely show support for 175+ participating local nonprofits during May 12 and 13 at CentreGives.org

This year, Centre Gives will be more rewarding than ever before. A number of participating nonprofits are on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, providing vital health, food and housing services. These organizations offer comfort to our neighbors when times are tough, and they are mightily responding to the increased need during this unusual time.

Odds are at least one, and likely several of the 175+ participating organizations, has touched your life in some way. Whether it’s the arts and cultural organizations that make life in Centre County so beautiful, the parks that provide outdoor recreation for all ages, the animal shelter where your family met its newest “fur-ever” friend, diverse educational initiatives, or environmental conservation, there is certainly a cause for everyone to hold dear.

Centre Gives is hosted annually by Centre Foundation, where I have served on the board since 2013 and currently serve as board chair. Over the past eight Centre Gives events, over $8 million has been raised, and it all stays local.

I hope you’ll join me by contributing what you can during Centre Gives. This is a special time for us to safely and simply come together to support the organizations that make us love where we live.