To the editor:

When I was carrying my third child more than 22 years ago, I met Sarah Lemmer. You can usually find Sarah working hard as a waitress at The Place to Be. Everyone knows Sarah. Chances are she knows your name and everyone else in the restaurant. Sarah has been serving good, hot food seven days a week to make ends meet. That was, up until about six weeks ago.

Unfortunately, Sarah was diagnosed with lymphoma. Presently she is not working and is receiving chemotherapy. The owners of The Place to Be, Maria and Chris, put a donation box out to help Sarah with her mounting bills. Within the first two weeks they collected more than $1,000. With Sarah's permission they released her address. She was overwhelmed with cards, flowers, gift certificates, etc. I don't think Sarah ever realized how much she was appreciated and loved by all, until now.

Recently, Sarah stopped in The Place to Be to say hello to her friends and co-workers whom she misses so much. She looks a little different. Maybe it's the wig. Maybe it's because she has had time to rest. But I can assure you it's the same old Sarah because the first words out of her mouth were, "I am going to ask the doctor next week when I can go back to work." You just can't keep a good woman down.

She misses everyone and is very grateful for the support. In the meantime, donations are still pouring in. Sarah periodically sends an updated letter to the restaurant, which is displayed for her friends to see. I continue to be amazed and proud of this community's generous giving and with the outpouring of thoughts and prayers. We anxiously await her return to work and good health.