Lavish Parties Amid Poverty

I have just read, and reread, your “ ‘Tis the Season to Be Jolly, Lavish, but a Little Drier” (Dec. 19).

I am appalled, ashamed and angry. When there are so many homeless and hungry families, these lavish, expensive parties are an affront to American society.

There is something radically wrong when the developer, Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, can entertain so lavishly, tax deductible, and the Marines’ “Toys for Tots” is lagging in contributions because large companies cannot “afford” to give.

I would have thought a great deal more of the companies mentioned if in lieu of employee and client parties they had combined their resources and helped alleviate some of society’s problems.

JEAN McDERMOTT

Irvine