The Nov. 5 article about "Safety Nets" by Steve Shay was well written, informative and insightful. I appreciated the opening line referencing John Lennon's classic song "Help" and the stories that followed.

However, as someone with a personal connection to John, Judy and Personal Safety Nets there was one important element of the work that was missing in the article. Creating a Personal Safety Net is much more that preparing for the worst-case scenario; it is intentionally building and solidifying your immediate (multi-generational) community. The vast majority of the time, a Safety Net team is utilized as a social network and enjoyed on a regular basis to commune over food and or activity. The work of Personal Safety Nets is about building community during good times in preparation for inevitable challenges that arise in our lives; the result is a vibrant and well-connected circle of family and friends.

Nate Moxley

Seattle