Dear Editor,

It saddens me to realize how many companies are so wasteful with what they call damaged items. I have always known that there is so much waste but to the degree of sending truck loads of items such as diapers, wipes, CDs and so on, to the dump is very disturbing.

With so many people in need of so much help these days, how could companies be so wasteful?

I think it would great PR for those companies to reevaluate how damaged items are handled. Send it to the people in need. People wonder what is wrong with our country. Well, take a look at the waste — it is astonishing.

It is real easy to not think of all the waste that goes on but, in fact, we need more than ever to be aware of such a tragic disinterest in the people who make up our wonderful nation.

I am but one person but I think companies could donate these so-called damaged items to the many organizations set up to help people.

I am all about helping and I do, but again, it saddens me to think how easy it is for so many to just trash things. Isn’t it a shame that the ones who have so much won’t rethink the so-called damaged items and send them to the ones who need them the most.

We all need to examine our practices and habits and realize how wasteful we are, but more than that, we need to stand up and speak out against such wastefulness by companies who have so much to give. I am proud to be an American but I am not proud of how such a great nation as the United States could allow this problem of wastefulness to continue.

I’m sure if the time was taken, answers to this growing problem could be found. If you agree with any of what I have spoken of in this letter, please start writing your own letters and let our concerns be heard. We can make a difference.

Joyce Sherrer

Montevallo