Letter from the Publisher

Salvation and dignity

FATHERS’ DAY IS THIS MONTH and always strikes close to my heart. I feel compelled to mention my own father, Jerry, as well as the other father figures in my life that helped shape me into the man I am, and the father I am today. I count my blessings every day that I have such a loving father who even to this day teaches me lessons of this world. I know the job of being a father never ends, even as the child grows into adulthood. As a father of two myself, I know the difficulties of the job and its importance – I thank God for the example my dad set for me. I was lucky enough to be mentored not just by my own father, but by my uncle Dr. Paul Glassman as well as my father’s best friend, Dr. Sheldon Katanick. All had such a profound impact on my life and shaped me into who I am.

Thank you, dad!

THE SALVATION ARMY IS CHRONICLED in this month’s issue, and I think about all the different ways this organization is able to lend a helping hand to those who need it most in our community. Like most people, I always dig around for that loose change or extra bill in my pocket as I pass by the volunteer soldiers ringing their bells during the holiday season, but rarely do I ponder exactly just what those small donations accomplish. With the Salvation Army, one does not need to search far to see the direct help people receive on a local basis, and that is not always the case with an organization that operates on such an enormous, international level.

The first thing I notice is the thrift store in which real items of quality can be found and put to use for minimal cost while still maintaining the dignity of the consumer. For a lot of folks, going out and buying a $30 electric can opener or spending $20 on kitchen towels is simply not an option. For these same people, taking hand-outs of such items lacks the dignity they desire, but the Salvation Army offers something in between: dignity and affordability. But that is just the beginning.

The thrift store, while providing affordable goods, also helps fund the many projects the organization operates as part of its Christian mission. From feeding the hungry to providing emergency shelter to people in need, The Salvation Army has been able to fulfill its mission here in Ocala in so many different ways.

I’ve always believed that for such a small town, the charity of its citizens and the volume of organizations that act as a conduit for that charity make Ocala seem a lot bigger than it really is. I don’t know the actual statistics, but I’m confident that per-capita, Ocalans are about as generous as they come and the local Salvation Army is testimony to that.

‘Til next month,

Jerry and Philip Glassman

Salvation Army's Major Dwayne Durham

Photo by Ralph Demilio

PHILIP GLASSMAN, PUBLISHER