Voice of the People - February 8, 2009

Pilgrims' Inn hasn't closed

Recently, there were several newscasts and news articles regarding Pilgrims' Inn that have apparently been misunderstood by a large number of people. I would like to clarify: Pilgrims' Inn is NOT closing. All five of our core programs are still running, and we are stable and functioning normally. We deeply appreciate the outpouring of concern we have received, but again I would like to reassure everyone that Pilgrims' Inn is not closing.

Allow me to clarify the press stories: In addition to our regular homeless shelter, we collaborated with the United Way of York County to open a temporary emergency warming center for women and children who could not get into other accommodations on cold nights. Our original plan was to keep the center open nightly during December and January, and to close by Feb. 1. That is the only program that closed, and it was a planned closing. Every person who was a guest in the temporary warming center at the time we closed was placed in a safe shelter in York County, so nobody was "put out" onto the street with nowhere to go, including the family that was interviewed on TV.

The only part of the plan that changed was that we originally expected to also be open in February and March -- but only on nights the temperature dipped below freezing. Instead, the United Way has worked with York County to create an alternative service for homeless women and children for those months, so there is still a place for women and children who may need shelter from the cold. This was not due to any problems with Pilgrims' Inn or the temporary shelter, but rather due to an effort to make the most effective use of the remaining dollars available for this project.

If anyone has any questions regarding these matters, please feel free to contact us at 327-4227.

Susan Dean

Executive Director

Pilgrims' Inn

Rock Hill

Classes shouldn't have been cancelled

This letter is in response to the recent decision by the Rock Hill school district to cancel classes on Wednesday. In their defense, I understand that safety for students and personnel is the first priority. I question if the decision makers fully understand the impact their final decision will have.

The students and teachers aren't the only ones affected by the school administration's decision to shut down the schools. Local private schools, pre-schools and child development centers follow the direction of the school systems. It begins to have an impact on the entire community.

When schools, pre-schools and child development centers are closed, parents are required to miss work. Many workers will not be paid if required to miss work. When classes are cancelled and are required to be made up, the additional schedule change causes another burden for parents.

It should be a last resort when the local school systems decide to cancel classes, considering it is not their only option. Wednesday's weather conditions did not warrant classes being cancelled. At most, there should have been a two-hour delay.

Gene B. Dial

Fort Mill

This story was originally published February 7, 2009 at 11:52 PM with the headline "Voice of the People - February 8, 2009."