Mark Peterson's Comments
Dec. 6, 2004 - 1 p.m.
Virginia, MN
I believe that every child should have a
safe place to be every night. This place is dedicated to helping assure
that here on the Range, there is such a place for the children in this
community. This is very important.
What we do here is to make public our own
valuing of children. We dedicated this facility today. We also dedicate
ourselves to a vision today - a vision that the children of this community
will live with dignity, safety and hope.
Kids have a very small voice
in terms of public policy.
The truth is that children and youth have
few organized lobbies in government. As a result, services for needy
children are woefully inadequate. The number of shelter beds for kids is a
perfect example. While there are some 700-800 kids on the street each
night in Minnesota, there are only a handful of shelter spaces available
for them. Some communities respond with their own solutions. Others,
however, deny the problems, hoping that they will "go away."
From my point of view, there are few
resources available to children whose families don't do right by their own
kids or who don't have the resources to do so. When we're reduced to
having to sell Crispy Kermes to help keep kids off the street, we know
there's something wrong with the system. And, we've struggled here on the
Range, too. Each year we struggle to make our supports for families and
children at risk available.
I need to say, though, that St. Louis
County, more than most stand with children, even when their own financial
resources are thin. I'm grateful for that. All of us should be. Of course,
advocacy from some of the people in this room help this County stand with
the children, but stand they do.
LSS will become a bigger voice to advocate
for kids in Minnesota.
LSS is a voice for children and youth in
our state, and it has been that for over a century. Our objective is to
provide a safety net for kids who have been forced from their homes or who
have been forgotten by society. We can't do it alone, and we can't do it
every place. But we keep working at it, finding committed staff such as
the people who serve here in Virginia. And we also keep finding people who
share our vision and who contribute to our efforts, just like what
happened here. Our staff and our supporters should wear this day proudly.
Because today marks the time when kids will have a better shake at turning
their lives around … right here, right now.
Plaque and Bible Presentation
This plaque and Bible will serve as a constant reminded that from this
day forward, The LSS Family Resource Center is better able to provide
shelter and guidance to at-risk youth. It will remind those who work here,
and those who are helped in this place, that this community is behind them
as well as the full support of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. When
the kids who will be served here fell voiceless, they will know that
behind the, supporting them, is a very fine and dedicated community of
supporters.
I'm grateful to the staff for their
exceptional work. I'm grateful to the congregations who support our work.
I'm grateful for the passion of the community that make up the Iron Range
for helping to assure that there is a safe place for children.
Thank you all.
Mark Peterson
President/CEO
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
Dec. 6, 2004
LSS Office of Communications
Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota
2485 Como Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55108
1-800-582-5260
651/642-5990
FAX 651/969-2360
Jackie.Nelson@lssmn.org
