We are not a catch-all. We don't handle trauma, but if we didn't have this kind of community support, we wouldn't make any lasting changes.

The hospital is taking an important step in support of stronger and healthier families in our community.

Through a program with Community Support services, they place around 50 homeless into apartments every year. Shesler Hall houses about 40 per year and Henry Hall just opened. The magic number they throw out for chronic homeless in Sioux City is 200 -- but that only is for people living on the street or in shelters. That doesn't count people doubling up.

The percentage of uninsured working adults is climbing consistently because of the cost of insurance premiums, health care and medications. We depend on private contributions from the community to continue offering these services.

The business community cannot take on 6 million gun owners and their right to own firearms and win. That's a losing battle. And we don't need to have that battle. We need to come to agreement.

One of the things that continues to amaze me is just how much support this organization has been given by so many people for 40 years.