Editor,

Congratulations and a heartfelt thanks for today’s excellent front-page story about two Whidbey Island churches joining forces to help Western State Hospital. When prayer groups from St. Hubert and Trinity Lutheran put prayers into action by collecting a wide variety of items sorely needed by the hospital, the parishioners of both churches responded far beyond expectations.

Western State Hospital has had nothing but bad publicity recently — the result of gross underfunding and human needs that far outstrip the attention afforded by the state Legislature and the public. Anything that can be done to make people more aware and de-stigmatize mental illness, will be a step in the right direction.

Kyle Jensen, the reporter who was assigned to cover the story for The Record, outdid himself in terms of outstanding coverage and attention to detail. When one of the church members asked Kyle why he seemed to have such a great interest in the project, he responded that he enjoyed covering stories that had the potential to help people.

The Record’s recently received award for general excellence is very well deserved. Keep up the good work!

Sincerely,

NORMA HANSSON

Freeland