In response to the My Turn column in your paper Friday, I wish to add my comments.

I have been a volunteer at the Post Falls Humane Society Thrift Store for over a year. I came to volunteer to help the "puppies and kitties" because I believed in the cause. When I first went to work there, it was disorganized, dirty, and certainly not making much money. During the past 15 months, I have seen a new manager come on board who turned that store around amazingly.

Over and over during the past year I have heard customers state how nice the store is now and how easy it is to find things for which they are looking. Our customers appreciated the improvements and we actually regained many customers we had lost over time due to the previous condition of the store. The Board brought in the new manager to turn the store around, and that has been done despite working against the odds. The manager has treated the volunteers as part of her team to make the store profitable to the Humane Society.

However, we have received what I consider absolutely no support from the Board of Directors. The current store is in a state of disrepair that could be fixed with a few hundred dollars by the landlord, but the Board has never made an effort to demand that the back door (which only has a lock on it because one of the volunteers purchased and installed it) not leak, the roof leaks be repaired, and that the leak over the emergency lighting be fixed immediately as the fire department cited over a year ago.

The Board has multiple times during the past year equivocated on whether to move, stay at the current location, or close the store, the result of which is that we never knew if we would be in business or not.

The Board instructed us to increase our overall sales by twice the amount that had previously been brought in - and we did that. They then requested an additional increase - and we did that, too. The small staff of volunteers (6-7) who work in that store have put their heart and soul into it to make it a success, along with great leadership from the manager. However, the Board of Directors seems to feel that we are "only volunteers." And they state that even after we have doubled sales, the store is not making any money!

I understand entirely why the writers of My Turn have decided not to be a part of the organization any more. I too have turned in my resignation, as I do not believe that the current Board of Directors will actually listen to anyone. I loved my "job" and looked forward to working there. However, with a non-responsive Board that continually re-elects itself, I don't believe that the situation will improve.

Having been referred to as "only a volunteer" does not cause one to warm to the cause. I volunteer with other organizations in Post Falls, and I can assure this Board of Directors that never, within earshot or not, have I ever been referred to as "only a volunteer" and that my services, whatever they may be, have been appreciated by those other organizations verbally. And yes, I will continue to volunteer elsewhere, where volunteers are treated like part of the team by the entire organization. Volunteers allow organizations to grow and expand without additional expense, and this Board should take note of that immediately.

I have heard similar stories from other volunteers for the Humane Society to those that now grace the pages of your newspaper. Unfortunately, it is not possible for any one person to correct the issues raised by the My Turn writers or those of which I am personally aware. It is a shame that the very people who really want to help the homeless, abandoned, neglected and injured animals with their volunteer work are leaving because of the frustration caused by one small group of people.

Having said all this, I encourage the community to continue to support the Humane Society to make sure that the animals find safe forever homes. I also encourage the community to get involved and see if the current Board of Directors can be replaced by people not only with love for the animals in their heart, but a sense of where this organization can really go. And I challenge the current Board of Directors to reveal why only such a small percentage of income actually goes to the direct care of animals.

Kathy Harris is a Post Falls resident.