Published: April 24, 2008 02:21 am         

Why make benefit pay?

To the editor:

Municipal Auditorium makes Benefit pay??

I hope that the benefit for Caitlin Bartlett didn’t go unnoticed over the weekend, especially the outstanding coverage on Monday morning's front page by Leslie Gibson. Reading about what Caitlin’s friends and even complete strangers did in preparation for this benefit concert just shows what kind of family, friends and community that we have here in Hunt County. Being from Lone Oak myself, I know how hard our community has been stricken with devastating situations over the past year; and it is very, very uplifting to see everyone come together for such a good cause. Having family and friends working within the Lone Oak ISD school campuses, we are constantly updated on Caitlin’s progress, which can only be explained by the community’s support with constant prayer and guidance by the faith of God.

But of all the great things that I have recently heard and read about, one thing really puzzles me with the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. I understand that the Auditorium is the perfect place to have bands play for concerts, unlike gymnasiums, parking lots, or football stadiums. But could the City of Greenville not help out their own community for one night by not charging the kids the $800 they did to rent the Auditorium?? This was not a normal concert or event that was happening on a regular Saturday night. It was something extraordinary that high school kids put together for a young girl and her mom that have had a life changing accident happen to them. The friends and fundraisers of Caitlin worked so hard to raise money, only to have a portion of it going to the City of Greenville. Yes, I understand the city officials are going to say that the City of Greenville would absolutely go under if they had not charged the $800 for the rental fee! Who knows, the Auditorium might even have to close down!?! If the City of Greenville really wanted to help, you would think they would have donated money towards Caitlin and her mother, oh let’s say like $800, or maybe that’s just me?

To all the friends, family, and people in the community who donated their time, prayer and donations to help out Caitlin and her family, your work has not gone unnoticed! If there were more people like you in this community and this world, we would all live in such a better place. Especially if some of those people worked for the Municipal Auditorium and the City of Greenville!

Justin M. Douglas

Lone Oak