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We should help hometown folks first

March 9, 2008 12:16 am

I read the article about Africans being relocated to our city and given housing, clothing, and food ["Churches provide home for refugees," March 1].

I am a very caring and empathetic person when it comes to someone in need, but I am very angry when it comes during a time when our city is suffering economically and is supporting a 600-plus homelessness figure.

To me, it is irresponsible for a church in the heart of the community to put so much effort into people they don't know or interact with on a daily basis.

What about the poor homeless people who reside under the bridge right down the street, with not even so much as a blanket? And oftentimes, if they are women they are subject to violent crimes.

These recent African immigrants are able and willing to work for the most part, and the only available jobs are being swept away and given to people who haven't invested their time, blood, sweat, and tears into this city at all.

It's the people who have been here who deserve our help first, before we go outstretching our hands to those we barely know.

My heart goes out to all of our homeless, bankrupt, jobless, and hanging-on-for-dear-life citizens who reside right here, probably not even a block away from anyone who is reading this, who are not getting the help they need and deserve.

Christina Scott

Fredericksburg