Dear Ms. Loop, your recent letter to the editor of the West Seattle Herald was brought to my attention this afternoon. After reading it, I felt compelled to express a few of my thoughts on it to you personally as well as the editorial staff of the Herald.

First of all, I would like to commend you on volunteering your time to procurement activities for your school auction. I can only imagine how much work must go in to enticing people to donate items to such a worthy cause.

I assume taking on such responsibilities must result in your fair share of rejections on requests for auction items. While I can appreciate your work, I find your letter to the editor without thought or merit. You make it sound as if all Junction business owners have become selfish and heartless and that In Bloom is the worst of them (after all, you found it necessary to name them specifically in your letter).

Maybe some of those businesses actually are selfish. Maybe some just don't believe in your charitable endeavors. Or maybe some of them are struggling to keep their business afloat, and have owners taking on extra part-time jobs just to keep their business in existence - which is the case with In Bloom. Further more, I understand In Bloom has chosen to continue donating to three of their favorite charities despite their financial challenges.

I'm sure In Bloom felt worse about turning you down then you did about being turned down. Perhaps it would be wise to research the motives behind a business' decision on a charitable donation before choosing such a public forum to call them out.

I only hope readers of the Herald don't make the same mistake you did, and make hasty judgments on organizations like - oh, I don't know - Windermere Real Estate or, even worse, your child's school.

Eric Olson

Magnolia