Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Watch and consider

All year long we've watched the demand for our assistance increase.

We noticed back in January that something wasn't right.

Too many hungry people.

Too many long lines and waits to explain needs.

And, unfortunately, too often this year our warehouse and pantry shelves have been too empty to meet the pressing needs that increasingly feel like flood waters that never recede.

Times are not easy. In fact, they are tough and growing tougher.

Take a moment and watch the ads that you'll find right here.

Pay particular attention to the first video, top left, the one with the child sitting in the front seat of the car. The footage could have been shot just outside my office here on Crutcher Street in inner city East Dallas.

We, no better, our friends here in Dallas need your help.

Your donations today will go a long way toward helping families keep things together. Funds saved on groceries can be shifted to paying rent, utilities, medical and transportation costs.

Visit our website at www.CentralDallasMinistries.org to make a secure donation on-line or mail your checks to my attention: Larry James Urban Daily, c/o Central Dallas Ministries, P. O. Box 710385, Dallas, Texas 75371-0385.

Thanks in advance for your help.

.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, very powerful videos!

Thanks for all that you do.

Just curious, have you had any luck with fund-raisers? I know sometimes they don't bring in any profit though. I know that Harding makes some profit (I think) when they bring in guest speakers, entertainers etc (such as Bill Cosby about 10 years ago) - I've wondered why social service agencies don't try something like that... renting an auditorium, selling tickets at a high price, etc. I know I probably don't know what I'm talking about, and it prob wouldn't work.

Larry James said...

Anon 11:53, to the contrary, we have had fundraiser concerts at our symphony center here in Dallas for the last several years in the fall. This year we had Clint Black. Past performers include Bill Cosby, B. B. King, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Vince Gill, and LeAnne Rimes. We always net a good and very useful return, plus we enjoy a great night of celebration of the work we are attempting. In the spring, host an annual urban ministries prayer breakfast and we make a little money on that, but not much by comparison. The prayer event is focused on prayer and some issue that is designed to educate our supporters and partners.
Thanks for asking. Your idea is right on.

Cheryl Russell said...

We are encouraging friends and family to skip Christmas cards this year and donate the money to their local Gospel Rescue Mission instead. We usually get about 30 or so Christmas cards a year, and if each of those families spends about $30 on cards, that is $900 that could go to local missions. Our family usually spends about $50on Christmas cards, which we found out will provide 36 meals at our Rescue Mission. We are calling this effort Season's Eatings. I pray some in your area might read this and decide to donate to Central Dallas Ministries. I know it's not a big thing, but every little bit helps. I'm happy to find my mailbox empty this Holiday Season if it means that someone else has a warm meal in their belly.