Gerdes thank you

Dear Editor:

As I near the final days of running the Good Samaritan Center, I am often reminded of a line or two in the Optimist Creed.  At each Optimist meeting we promise ourselves a number of things but two lines jump out at me as I think about the Good Samaritan Center.  They are: “To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future”.

“To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.”

At the Good Samaritan Center, our mission is to be “Dedicated to the prevention of homelessness and hunger by providing basic life needs and access to life skills.”   In my mind there is a connection between our mission and the two points of the Optimist Creed.  At the Center we ask our clients to learn from the past and work to improve yourself each day.

I want to thank everyone who has been a supporter of the Center in any way, whether as a donor, a volunteer, a prayer warrior, a board member, or a staff member of the Center.  Without you and without God’s blessings on everyone, the Good Samaritan Center could not exist.

Many of you have sent cards of congratulations on my upcoming retirement and I thank you.  You all have made me proud when you continue to serve others.   With God’s help I plan to continue serving the community in my retirement years.  I will look for your smiling faces at future Good Samaritan functions.  Thank you again for your show of gratitude these past several months.

Sincerely,

Bob Gerdes, the retired Executive Director

The Good Samaritan Center of Excelsior Springs

By Standard Staff • StandardStaff@leaderpress.com

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