The Shadow
Dear Sir,
When I wrote my letter back in January venting my frustration at the commonwealth’s social services and child support enforcements lack of help, I had no idea what an outpouring of love and compassion it would bless us with.
People like Ruth Fleming and her wonderful and thoughtful family, the Rev. Mike Fleenor and the wonderful congregation at McAllister Memorial Presbyterian Church, the generous and compassionate members of the Covenant Sunday school class, Jan Phillips Armentrout and Covington Baptist Church and to Glenn Bailey, who has treated our boys as if they were part of his own family.
I was left speechless after seeing folks I barely knew reaching out a hand for us to grasp for hope.
To Ann and Amos Kern, who reached out to lend encouragement I thank you so very much. There are no words to express our deep gratitude to those I have mentioned for what you have done to help our family through this very tough time. We have always considered Covington our home even while we were gone for 15 years and feel so blessed to be back and realize that our family includes all of the folks I have mentioned.
My letter was to hopefully provoke anyone else in our situation to write letters to their congressmen, senators and legislature about how badly child support and child support enforcement needs to be updated.
The current guidelines are over a decade old and do not address the special problems encountered when maternal or paternal grandparents find themselves raising their grandchildren at this time in their lives. We believe the we are on the cusp of being discriminated against by the Commonwealth of Virginia and our cries for help have fallen on deaf political ears.
I would also like to encourage any individual or church organization to support the Alleghany Foundation. I am so thankful for the services we are able to receive from the Alleghany Highlands Free Clinic so that we are able to stay healthy enough to raise our grandsons.
We would have no medical care at all if it were not for the benevolence of The Alleghany Foundation and the caring staff at the clinic, especially Dr Aubrey Hall and Dr. Richard Clatterbaugh.
Again, bless you all from the bottom of our hearts for all of your thoughts, gifts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Debi and Bobby Leitch
East Chestnut Street
Covington
