Letter: Shriners have a purpose: help kids

This letter is being written in response to Barry Smith's column of Oct. 27.

First, I want to say that for the most part, I enjoy your column; however, I took offense at this one in only one respect. It seems that the press has absolutely no idea what the Shriners do - "Drive around in funny little cars in circles - nobody knows why."

They may appear to go around in circles to you, but they have a very direct path and that is the support of 22 childrens, burn, orthopedic and spinal hospitals throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. These hospitals are entirely built and maintained by the Shrine and receive no financial aid from any other fund raising projects. Care in these hospitals is available to any needy child without cost to the families regardless of race, creed or color. Our local Kerak Shrine has two vans for the use of transporting children to and from the hospital in Sacramento. We have Shriners and their wives who volunteer for this purpose. The vans are used almost on a daily basis. As one of those volunteers, I can say that this is a very heart-warming and rewarding experience.

Mr. Smith, I suggest that on your next trip to Sacramento that you take an hour or so out of your day and tour our childrens hospital. I guarantee you will come away with a full heart and an understanding of what Shriners do. These tours are conducted by fellow Shriners on a volunteer basis, and they welcome questions and are well equipped to answer them. These tours are open to one and all, at no charge.

I am a Shriners wife, and am very proud that my husband is a Shriner, and I support his efforts 100 percent. This is a most wonderful organization so please, please get your facts straight before making erroneous statements.

Our wonderful clowns, our patrol unit and, yes, the guys driving around in circles, all work very hard to support this terrific cause and we have fun doing it. We have fun so that we can make things easier for those who don't have much to look forward to in their lives. Without our fun, some children may never have the chance to walk again, or want to look in a mirror again because they wouldn't have the medical assistance that they could not otherwise afford.

A young lady walked up to my Shriner at one our our circuses and asked if she could hug him. He was hesitant, but then she said, "She would love to hug every Shriner she ever saw because if not for them, she would not be alive today." What more reward could anyone ask for?

SHIRLEY CHANDLER

Dayton