Letter to the editor: New families are healthy for communities

Regarding the article “Influx of young families stresses Freeport Area elementary classrooms” (Aug. 13, TribLIVE): We are a young family of educators. We were excited to move this summer to Sarver. While an influx of young families may put temporary stress on a community’s resources, newcomers also bring resources (e.g., human talent, trade and tax revenues, including school tax revenues), which are generally a boon. Stress can be healthy when it ultimately promotes growth and prosperity. However, to present such a one-sided article invites the kind of divisions and stress that does rather the opposite.

Our new neighborhood is full of nurses, police officers, teachers, professors, retired couples, etc. We are full of community servants. Please think before you print and post pictures of people’s homes along with such a one-sided article. The comments the article inspired were anything but kind.

New, young families are healthy for a community. A stagnant, aging population will lead to economic depression. Above all, though, please be kind. These are families with children. I hope that this community wants to be kind and grow.

Andrea Smith

Buffalo Township