Help United Way meet goal

Thank you for your recent articles keeping the community informed about the progress of the local United Way Campaign.

With a week to go, we are very close to making the campaign goal. We urge those who have yet to contribute to help us close out the campaign in a positive manner.

Just this week, with United Way funds, Rufty-Holmes Senior Center ordered “shelf meals” for distribution to local older adults for use on days when the pantry might be sparse and the weather is too inclement to get out and attend our Lunch Club sites. With United Way support, Meals on Wheels will feed many other seniors in their homes who cannot get out even on good weather days.

As we approach a season of plenty for many at Thanksgiving, remember those who might go hungry if not for your help through the United Way.

— Rick Eldridge

Salisbury

Eldridge is executive director of Rufty-Holmes Senior Center.

In sore need of campaign finance reform

Our free elections aren’t free. I think that we can all agree that after this last election, and the ones before it, we need serious campaign finance reform. As a citizen of North Carolina I can’t vote for someone running for governor of New York, but I can give him money for his campaign. I can’t vote for someone running for mayor in Dallas, Texas, but I can give him a campaign contribution. This is allowed because the unelected Supreme Court says that giving money to a political candidate is free speech.

I don’t think that this is fair because it makes it easier for rich people, corporations, and foreign entities to buy our elections. I think that we need a law, or constitutional amendment, that states that candidates running for political office can only receive contributions from their constituents. If you can’t vote for, or run against, a candidate, then you shouldn’t be able to give him money.

— Chuck Mann

Greensboro