Re: Mentoring Associates needs a new home - [Letter, Village news, 8/18/2011]

I was absolutely appalled when I read this letter about the undermining of Mr. Donohue’s efforts to bring this much needed service to our children in Fallbrook. I had an occasion to volunteer at this afterschool program for a few weeks and I found myself amazed at the dedication and kindness shown to the children by Mr. Donohue.

It is not often that we find someone so obviously selfless in the pursuit of encouraging and enabling children, at risk, to find a safe haven in which to study and advance themselves. He should be applauded and honored for the contributions he has made to these children and their community, with little or no help from anyone.

It is my hope that the landlord of this community will realize the unfairness of insisting that these children be bussed to any church as a condition of continuing Mr. Donohue’s extremely valuable Mentoring Associates. This is a mentoring service not a path to any one particular church and I would suggest that the women who are behind this maneuver read Luke 9:48. The last time I looked, this was still a free country with freedom of religion and a separation of education and proselytizing.

There must be someone in this “friendly” community who can help Mr. Donohue find a much needed facility in which he can continue his mission of helping these children and preparing them for their future.

The path to God and any religion should be set by example, not force.

Suzanne Feltman