Provide coats for the homeless
Fall and winter are upon us, and with them come colder temperatures. As temperatures drop, life becomes more difficult for people living on the streets and below the poverty line. Higher energy bills and rising living costs may make staying warm more difficult than ever this winter. People in need may be faced with a choice: “heat or eat.”
Homeless and low-income people need protection from the elements during the coldest months of the year. For disadvantaged people, a warm winter coat is often unaffordable. Many cannot provide coats for their families, including children living in poverty.
Do you have coats in your closet that you no longer wear? Give them some warmth by donating them to the Salvation Army of Loveland. Please help us provide warm clothing to the poor and homeless:
• Coats and jackets.
• Wool hats and beanies.
• Scarves.
• Gloves.
• Socks.
• Boots and shoes.
• Sweater.
• Sweatshirts and hoodies.
• Sweatpants and jeans.
• Blankets and sleeping bags.
Unlike other collection sites, the Salvation Army of Loveland does not operate a thrift store. We do not resell donated items; we simply give them to those in need.
We believe in the dignity and equality of all people and treat those less fortunate with respect and compassion. Your donations can help us change their lives for the better.
Share the warmth of our community. Please bring your donated items to the Salvation Army of Loveland, 840 N. Lincoln Avenue #101, or donate online at loveland.salvationarmy.org.
Olga Duvall, Loveland
Shouldn’t Loveland benefit from the marijuana tax?
This letter contributes to the discussion regarding the City of Loveland’s strained budget. Should Loveland allow the sale of cannabis within city limits and use the taxes collected to support city services such as the library? Based on my 40+ years of professional experience in the behavioral health field specializing in substance abuse disorders, it is my opinion that cannabis and alcohol are both legal drugs and therefore should be sold and taxed in Loveland. I recently reviewed some of the research on alcohol and marijuana. One particular article titled “The Effects of Cannabis Compared to Alcohol on Driving” by R. Andrew Sewell MD et al. The research looked at drugged driving versus alcohol-driven driving.
The researchers concluded that the accident rate is significantly lower under the influence of marijuana than under the influence of alcohol. Their results suggest that drivers under the influence of alcohol tend to underestimate their level of impairment, while marijuana users tend to overestimate their impairment. Cannabis users perceive their driving under the influence as impaired and are generally more cautious. Binge drinkers are more likely to believe they are unimpaired.
Both alcohol and cannabis are legal drugs, and driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs is illegal. Both drugs contribute to unsafe driving.
When studying the health effects of alcohol or marijuana, comparative results can be examined.
Some people believe that marijuana is a gateway drug. They are right, but so are alcohol and nicotine. All three substances can lead to higher drug use.
Please understand that I do not advocate the use of marijuana or alcohol, and I strongly oppose the use of tobacco. However, since all three drugs are legal, shouldn’t they also be sold and taxed legally? The city can at least benefit from additional tax revenue. If Loveland doesn’t move forward to generate tax revenue from marijuana, our neighboring cities surely will.
Fred Garcia, Loveland
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