To the editor:

We would like to thank the staff of the Suffolk News-Herald for including coverage of our Healthy Families party held last month for the families in our parent support program.

As the article mentioned, a number of community organizations helped to make the holiday event and gifts to the children possible, for which we are grateful. Since its inception in 1997, Healthy Families Suffolk/Isle of Wight has enjoyed a close and productive collaboration between the Western Tidewater Health District and Sentara Obici Hospital, whose staff not only make sure that the families desiring extra support find their way to community services but also go beyond the call of duty to assist with special events and needs that arise.

Suffolk Social Services has helped to ensure that funding remains in place. The city of Suffolk may be relatively small, but professionals in other cities have often commented on the tight-knit network of providers who rally together in a very effective way to serve its residents.

The newspaper plays an important part as it keeps citizens aware of what is happening in our area and the services that are available. As a new year dawns, we hope that the good people of Suffolk will continue to read the paper and take advantage of all their community has to offer.

Beverly McQuarry

Healthy Families Suffolk/Isle of Wight