One of our community’s greatest blessings is funding for Montgomery County Human Services, which delivers critical help to the most vulnerable among us: abused and neglected children, frail elderly, people with mental retardation and severe disabilities, the unemployed and the mentally ill.

For these individuals, there is no other safety net.

On November 2, citizens will decide whether these essential, sometimes life-or-death services, should continue.

Issue 9, the replacement levy for Montgomery County Human Services, costs so little – the price of a soft drink at $1.30 a month for the owner of a $100,000 home. But it gives back so much.

It ensures children in dangerous homes are safe, protected and cared for. It delivers meals and in-home assistance to seniors who are hungry and frail.

It provides housing and counseling for the mentally ill.

And it gives people with disabilities professional help for a better quality of life.

If Issue 9 fails, nearly half the local funding – tens of millions of dollars – will be cut, sending the most vulnerable among us into harm’s way.

More than 70 organizations support Issue 9. As chair of The Dayton Foundation Governing Board, our region’s community foundation that helps people to help others, I urge you to vote “yes” so we can keep this tangible blessing that protects tens of thousands of individuals.

In times like these, we cannot turn away from our citizens with the greatest of all needs.