Dem
47
GOP
53
This isn't exactly how the "thanks" in "Thanksgiving" works, but we were nonetheless pleased that the second installment here ends up running during Thanksgiving weekend. As readers will recall, we asked for suggestions for people, besides the military, who deserve a "thank you." In the first set of letters, we covered blue-collar professions and government workers. Today, we're going to focus on other sorts of people who serve the general public:
S.K. in East Lansing, MI, writes: Thanks to the moms who often sacrifice their careers, ambitions and their time for their children.
D.H. in Durham, NC, writes: Another group of people to whom I want to send my deepest gratitude are foster parents. My son-in-law's sister has basically taken this up as a calling; she and her husband have their own children, but have fostered many and are in the process of adopting two. Having gotten a closer view of how this works through their stories, I have heard of the unbelievable pain they have endured trying to protect children from abusive situations—so many rounds of hearings in courts, only to have children returned to horrific situations for a while, then removed and sent back to foster care. It seems that any parent who is breathing has a right to get their child back just one more time, even if they have inflicted immeasurable damage. Even from a distance, my heart breaks for these children who will probably never be whole. I cannot even imagine what torture the actual foster parents must endure. Thank you all for trying to save even one child from a life of abuse and cruelty.
L.B.K. in Cle Elum, WA, writes: Daycare workers. Taking care of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers is not easy and the pay is generally terrible.
J.T.B. in Manhattan, NY, writes: I'd like to add daycare workers to your much-appreciated list of unsung heroes in the workforce who don't get their own day of celebration. The often minority, mostly female people who take care of our kids while we work are paid starvation wages to do one of the most important jobs of all. If I ran the world, they'd be the ones making million-dollar salaries while the private equity bros received minimum wage for their utterly useless jobs moving money around.
L.B. in Mesa, AZ, writes: As a retired teacher of 40 years, I wonder if we are ready to have the conversation that teachers are also first responders when a school is in the grips of a shooter. Teachers work to protect their students from a weapons-bearing intruder, sometimes at the expense of their own lives.
P.Y. in Boca Raton, FL, writes: Alongside our country's educators, most of whom work longer hours for less money than their neighbors, we need to recognize the more than 82,000 school board members, most of whom are unpaid volunteers whose actions can impact our children's education almost as much as those of the teachers themselves.
Decades ago, I had the privilege of serving my community as a member of its Board of Education, and I remember that time as the most thankless but also the most rewarding endeavor of my life. School boards make up the largest group of elected officials in the country, and most of their members serve with little or no pay while taking on a lot of responsibility. They are charged with overseeing local public schools, setting school policies and curriculum, and putting together school budgets, which are typically the largest single item affecting property taxes. You can see right there the multiple points of potential community friction.
While we had to deal with fewer culture-war issues back then, the annual school budget was always a controversial and divisive subject, with parents' lobbies and taxpayer groups clashing over school spending. Often, when the Board tried to chart a middle course, we only made everyone angry. At times, police presence at school board meetings was regrettable but necessary. But in the end, the school board's actions were an important determinant of our students' educational achievement alongside those of their teachers and parents.
Regrettably, there is no national recognition day for school board members, though many states have designated such days. One example is the State of Illinois, which celebrates School Board Members Day on November 15th to recognize the contributions of local school board members. Other states have also designated similar days to honor these selfless volunteers.
M.A. in Park Ridge, IL, writes: In my volunteer duties I occasionally interact with the men and women (mostly women) who work with the Department of Children and Family Services (as we call it here in Illinois). These people are absolute heroes, looking out for our most vulnerable and fragile individuals. DCFS workers put in long hours for a pittance, are never welcome when they show up (and often face outright hostility or even violence on the job), and still do show up and do their level best for those in their charge. Hats off to them.
G.G. in Lexington, KY, writes: I think the most overlooked, overworked, and overwhelmed group you missed are the SOCIAL WORKERS.
These are the folks who are committed to make a difference in the absolute HARDEST situations for the very LEAST in monetary compensation. School social workers, anyone working in child protective services, in-patient adolescent homes, the like, etc.
R.S. in New Haven, CT, writes: You forgot social workers. They're jacks-of-all-trades in the behavioral health field, get paid significantly less than psychologists and serve a vital role in many different professional sectors. School is usually very expensive, which leads to student loan debt. However, they primarily choose to go into the profession to help others.
R.L.D. in Sundance, WY, writes: My nomination for servants who deserve thanks is social workers, and in particular those who go out to do homeless outreach to all those sleeping outside, and those working in emergency shelters, dealing with all the difficulties that come from barracks living, plus all the troubles that lead to homelessness.
Anonymous in IA writes: People who work for non-profit organizations deserve recognition. Our local Operation Threshold helps low-income families with food/housing/heating assistance, as well as young parents who are struggling with the cost of formula and diapers.
During the shutdown, our food bank has been hit hard. I would like to ask that in these uncertain times we don't forget about those who are struggling with providing the basics for their families. I'm working with my local church to see if we can get more involved with community meals.
J.L. in Baltimore, MD, writes: Don't forget the people who feed other people! All those who work on farms and in food pantries, soup kitchens, Meals on Wheels, school meal programs and many others. That's especially important right now, when people who depend on SNAP are having trouble getting enough to eat.
M.K. in Sacramento, CA, writes: "Amen" to your list for folks who serve in addition to the military, police and firefighters! Glad to see teachers and others on the list (Mom taught 4th grade for many years).
I would also add folks who volunteer and support community organizations—food banks in particular these days. Many of the talented folks who run these organizations certainly could make more money at private organizations, but have a calling to help others
S.D. in Clarkston, GA, writes: Peace Corps and AmeriCorps volunteers and all the other full-time volunteers in groups like Brethren Volunteer Service and other private organizations, who frequently work in unsafe areas for little pay and recognition, lack the medical safety net available to the military and certainly don't get the retirement support.
Public health workers, who in recent years have faced danger from both COVID infection and COVID deniers
D.M. in Burnsville, MN, writes: Let's not forget the many, many Peace Corps Volunteers who served in some of the most remote and needful places around the globe. Since the early days of JFK's administration until today, PCVs have helped teach, build, lead and inspire in places around the world. Yes, and many have served and shone in what TCF would call "sh**hole countries".
S.W. in rural MN writes: People who should be recognized—volunteers. I don't believe a democracy functions unless people volunteer their time and expertise. I reviewed a mental list of my friends and family, and everyone was a volunteer. (Some volunteered for their community—others for a church, an organization or a sporting event.) I will include myself. I was one of those overpaid college professors, but I volunteered for a youth mentoring organization. (More than two hundred mentors were volunteers.)
W.S. in Pittsburgh, PA, writes: I worked for Catholic Charities for a number of years. I was always impressed by the involvement of attorneys in our fundraising and governance efforts. They frequently were present for early-morning and late-evening meetings. They get a bad rap but those I have known were heroes.
H.C. in Fort Collins, CO, writes: Thank you for including lawyers, and especially public defenders, in your list of people deserving of thanks for their service. Please include Gideon's Promise, an organization that trains and supports public defenders, in your list.
D.A. in Brooklyn, NY, writes: Union activists and organizers. They risk their livelihoods and sometimes physical safety to protect the livelihoods and physical safety of their fellow workers—and indirectly workers throughout their particular industries and beyond. Weekends? Child labor laws? 8-hour day? Overtime? Thank you, union activists and organizers.
One last installment next week. Have a good weekend, all! (Z)