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Letter: Thanks in a dire time

I just wanted to express my gratitude for how the community responded on Jan. 8 to the shootings at the Super 8 hotel.

Someone with the emergency response team mentioned to me, “I got into this line of work because I wanted to help people.”

He called it the “farmer mentality.” Everyone does their part to help the ones in need. Every action is vital, and everyone has a role to play.

Thank you, whether you were on the scene that night or a guest who talked us through it, sent us food, came to the candlelight vigil, sent a text message, called us who work here to check on us, donated online to the Shellby fund, worked behind the scenes to help us open again or prayed for us, and everyone who responded “yes” to any request that was asked of you. Thank you.

All that support and love was felt and appreciated. We will never ever be able to understand or stop evil, but together, if we follow the farmer mentality, we are stronger.

Shellby was part of our work family. She had a special gift, a way to reach out to others. She recently told a coworker, “I am proud of you for stepping out of your comfort zone.” She didn’t want people to be alone. She lived by the farmer mentality. If we lay our heads down at night knowing we helped someone, we will heal. We loved Shellby.

As farmer and philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka said: “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

Gloria Witte,

Carlton

Super 8 hotel manager