Rep. Murt’s office collecting items for homeless veterans

To the Editor:

Until further notice, my staff and I will be collecting new and gently used backpacks, knapsacks, rucksacks, schoolbags, drawstring bags and satchels for homeless veterans.

We also welcome donations of combs, hairbrushes, chap sticks, wet wipes, pocket tissues, deodorant, bar soap, hand cream, hand sanitizer, snacks, spoons, energy bars and water bottles.

If you have any of these items that you would like to donate, please drop them off in my office at 19 S. York Road in Hatboro.

Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Fairness, equality not part of a ‘radical social agenda’

“Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”; “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself”; “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.”

Last week we celebrated the completion of these projects at McKinley, which included streambank restoration, the creation of a vernal pool and planting of over 200 native trees and shrubs. All this work helps nature function as she should, with plants and a natural streambank filtering water and providing places for wildlife to shelter and feed.

The lessons our students — and our community — can glean from this project are inspiring and grounding and also advance our study of biology, chemistry and environmental health. By filtering polluted runoff from roads, roofs and parking lots, the projects mean a cleaner stream for people and critters and cleaner drinking water for all of us. And while the mechanisms are hard to see, these kinds of natural “green infrastructure” projects are less expensive, more effective and certainly more educational than the old “gray infrastructure” systems that have hurt water quality in the greater Philadelphia area.

Beyond the environmental benefits for a healthy community, this work is the result of hundreds of volunteer hours and leadership locals. That lesson alone is an important one for our students.

See you out there on the Jenkintown Creek!

Spewing conspiracy theories and insults at people with whom you do not agree, or do not like, does not reflect “actual Christian” love.