Extraordinary effort will really help kids

I am writing to you regarding the July 11 Julie Muhlstein column on the Operation Latchkey program and their efforts to build a sport court for the South Everett community (“Program for latchkey kids takes giant leap of faith”).

I have a bit of a different perspective on the project than most people probably have. I have been the office manager for the Greater Trinity Christian Learning Academy since its doors opened in the spring of 1999. In that time, I have watched Pastor Paul Stoot first-hand, as he worked tirelessly to see this dream become reality. It isn’t something that you see very often anymore. It isn’t something that makes for big news or flashy headlines, but I believe that it is an important point to emphasize. The goal of this project truly is to simply offer something positive for the youth of this community. It’s not a money-making idea. No one is going to get rich off of this project. It’s not designed to bring fame or notoriety. The simple and direct mission of this project is to help kids.

What makes this even more rare and inspirational is that it is a challenge to pull the resources together to make this happen. You hear of large corporations who help build something and you just know that they won’t ever really feel the pinch of giving that money away. Neither the Greater Trinity Christian Learning Academy nor the Greater Trinity Missionary Baptist church is in that kind of position to be able to write a single check to quickly build this facility. It is designed to be a community court and so they are relying on the community to help see it completed. I think that this will make the day that this court is dedicated all the more special. There have been sacrifices made, late nights spent wondering, hoping and praying that all the pieces will come together in a timely manner. I think that will ultimately mean much more than to simply have had the necessary resources readily available.

I applaud Pastor Stoot and the other members of this team who have given so much simply because they believe in the necessity and ultimate good that this project holds.

GTCLA Office Manger

Snohomish

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