I write in response to the article Anger over email sent by ex-mayor, July 6.

When are Dartmouth Town Council and certain parties going to stop burying their heads in the sand and realise Dartmouth has a problem, caused by over eight years of austerity, fuelled by low wages, seasonal work and rising prices, especially in the housing rental market.

Dartmouth Community Chest should be praised and supported for the work it does. When is this constant bitching going to stop?

It seems every available opportunity to knock their work is practised. Why, when we should be congratulating the Community Chest?

You can’t sweep poverty under the carpet, it’s here, open your eyes. The support the Community Chest gives is brilliant, how would the town cope without them?

Nothing is impossible for them. They provide support, clothing, furniture and just someone to talk to on a bad day, let alone gas, electric and food when the food bank isn’t open – and hope.

I think certain parties should get off their high horses and get realistic, show support for the Community Chest and all the other agencies involved.

I would like to conclude by saying, do those responsible for all the endless, futile accusations realise how hurtful these are, not only to the Community Chest, but their families too.

Stop it now!

I suggest if you don’t support the efforts of Community Chest take a look around. People count, they are not statistics. If certain parties have a problem, go and spend a day volunteering, maybe Christmas Day. Help cooking dinner for elderly families and people just on their own. This is a lifeline for people without family or friends and struggling to cope.

I would also like to ask all the people who the community chest has helped and continue to help to stand up and be counted.

This is our town, it’s not turned into Salcombe yet, but if things carry on the way things are going, Dartmouth will become a ghost town and that’s not going to benefit anyone.

Julie Garton

Dartmouth Community Chest volunteer