During the holiday season, many charities and business establishments approach costumers asking to donate on behalf of a specific cause. The staff at the Barnes & Noble Southpoint Mall location asked patrons to purchase books to benefit young Durham County children who might not otherwise have had access to books.
The books were collected by Durham's Partnership for Children, a Smart Start Initiative, and distributed to many different programs serving children, including homeless shelters, early childhood programs and social service agencies.
We were touched by the tremendous outpouring of generosity and support of our local community that generated 4,150 books for Durham children and for the work of the Barnes & Noble sales team in promoting the book drive to customers.
Thanks to our community for supporting early literacy during the eight-week book drive. Our community's collective response has benefited thousands of children.
BILL BRYANT
The writer is vice chair, Durham's Partnership for Children
Psychiatrist shortage
As a graduate of the University of North Dakota Allied Health Program, I was gratified to read in an alumni publication that Blue Cross-Blue Shield of North Dakota plans to give the North Dakota School of Medicine and Allied Health $3.5 million for construction and for teaching grants.
Blue Cross-Blue Shield of North Carolina seems less public-spirited. It is public knowledge that in 2008 BCBS of North Carolina saw fit to pay its CEO, Robert Greczyn, an annual salary of $3,990,000. At the same time North Carolina continues to suffer from a shortage of psychiatrists, in part because psychiatrists are the lowest paid specialists in our state.
The president of the N.C. Psychiatric Association has stated in the N.C. Psychiatric News that psychiatrists in North Carolina have not gained a pay rate increase from BCBS of North Carolina since 1994.
Is something out of joint in the Tar Heel State?
KAY COOPER
Hillsborough
