Draper doesn't deserve D.I.

Recently, my son and I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Deseret Industries in Sandy for a Saturday afternoon helping to unload and organize the items dropped off by the generous public. What an eye-opening experience. I was amazed at the many generous donations that were made and by how many items I carried into the Deseret Industries only to carry out later that same day after they were purchased by someone at bargain-basement prices.

What a terrific service the Deseret Industries is to our community. Councilwoman Davis and Councilman Colbert, to associate the D.I. with a pawn shop, check-cashing business and especially with a secondhand store couldn't be more off the mark. The D.I. is first and foremost a non-profit charitable endeavor to help us all — givers and receivers. Maybe if you had spent some time there as a volunteer you might understand this distinction.

As unintentionally pointed out by Councilman Bill Colbert, perhaps one of the main problems with our world and society today is exactly that our cities don't jump for the opportunity to place charitable organizations such as the Deseret Industries (and others) front and center on the town square. Charity is after all, the pure love of the Savior. If I were a resident of Draper, I would certainly not want a councilman or councilwoman with the views of Mr. Colbert and Ms. Davis to represent me.

Pete Harris

Sandy