Letter to the Editor, Posted: 7/5/05
TO THE EDITOR:
On April 13, a rural North Branch family experienced a tsunami of sorts.
Six year old Jacob Puchtel was on his way across the blacktop county road to get the familyís mail from the mailbox. Suddenly the helpful errand turned into a nightmare as he lay unconscious in the ditch after being struck by a speeding pickup. Luckily, a passing motorist who stopped to help happened to be a trauma nurse.
Within the hour Jacob was airlifted to North Memorial Center in Robbinsdale. He is home recovering now facing months of physical therapy.
Jacob, and his family live a little better than a mile from my house, making them a neighbor. And yet I donít know him. He could be your neighbor and certainly a member of your community.
After last Decemberís tsunami in Indonesia the world quickly responded with a tremendous outpouring of aid in the form of money, food, fresh water, medicine and shelter materials. It is the act of compassion that makes us so uniquely human.
Now we have a family that is experiencing a financial tsunami of their own.
Meeting in the small Lutheran church located a half-mile east of the accident site, neighbors and friends have gathered and put into gear a benefit for Jacob and his family to help pay the mountain of medical bills.
On Sunday, July 16, there will be a benefit pig roast and silent auction complete with games and activities for kids at St. Johnís Lutheran Church in Stacy. The fund-raising event will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased at St. Johns on the day of the event for $5/ticket. For more information on purchasing tickets or making a donation contact Maurie Anderson at (651) 462-5834.
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans will provide up to $2,500 in matching funds.
Indonesia is a long way away and the likelihood of meeting any of the people who have been helped by distant generosity is remote. But if you want to feel real good about an act of kindness and see the reflection of your generosity on a childís face, take your family to St. Johns for a wonderful afternoon on July 16.
Tom Anderson
Director Warner Nature Center
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