The season of giving: Modesto residents demonstrate kindness through charitable acts | Opinion

Season of giving in Modesto

“Charities look to make up for weak revenue, shifting donor base this GivingTuesday,” (modbee.com, Dec. 2)

Our community shows its generosity through the likes of charity Thanksgiving dinners and the Soroptimist Community Christmas Tree. I’ve also seen kindness at work as shoppers bought bags of books for local charities at the Friends of the Modesto Library’s recent Scholastic Book Fair. The gift of reading will not just light up the eyes of local children as they get a forever book, it’s also an important step toward raising literacy rates in our schools.

As Giving Tuesday comes around, I’m thankful for the continuing generosity through donations to Soroptimists or other service organizations, like Rotary or Kiwanis, who give new books to the community. Having books in the home makes a difference for student success.

Consider donating directly to literacy charities like LearningQuest, a Modesto-based non-profit, the Imagination Library of Stanislaus County or more broadly, to Stanislaus Community Foundation’s Education Solutions Fund or the Christmas Tree project.

Well done, neighbors!

Anne Britton

Modesto

Protect student funding

“Can Trump shut down the Department of Education?” (modbee.com, Nov. 26)

Students like me who rely on federal funding for higher education may face challenges due to President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education.

This department is one of several vital initiatives aimed at alleviating the financial struggles of students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds by providing financial aid, Pell Grants and federal student loans. Many of us, myself included, would face enormous obstacles to attend college without these services, particularly in states with inadequate funding.

Ending this agency would result in a majority of state-run systems, which would increase educational disparities. Trump advocates cutting back on government power, but this would probably mean fewer students and less control over vital programs. We cannot afford to lose these important chances.

A government that prioritizes education is vital for guaranteeing that all students have equal access to opportunities for higher education.

Kevin A. Kumar

Stockton

In defense of Biden’s pardon

“What do Americans think of Joe Biden pardoning his son? Here’s what a new poll found,” (modbee.com, Dec. 4)

President Joe Biden said he wasn’t going to step down as a candidate but changed his mind almost at the last moment for the good of the country. He said he wasn’t going to pardon his son but changed his mind for the good of both his son and for the country. Hopefully, this pardon will prevent President-elect Donald Trump from exacting revenge against Hunter Biden (who is most likely one of his planned targets for the next four years).

Without his father’s pardon, Hunter would be kept in the news as a constant distraction from the real problems Americans will be facing under a Trump presidency.

If only Biden could pre-emptively pardon all of Trump’s “political enemies”...

Paula A Lomazzi

Sacramento