Here's something to consider in view of my last post, you know the obnoxious one on your money!
What do you plan to do with your tax rebate check that either has been deposited to your checking account or will be coming through the mail? You know, the $600 or $1,200 windfall that the federal government is giving back to help "stimulate the economy."
Why not donate part or all of it to Central Dallas Ministries or to some other effective charitable endeavor?
Here's my "challenge level" lineup for you to consider:
Compassion gift 10-49% of your rebate
Community gift 50-75% of your rebate
Commitment gift 76%-100% of your rebate
If you choose to make an investment in the work we are doing in Dallas in the inner city, we will be grateful. And, I can assure you your help will stimulate the lives of our neediest citizens.
I'd love to keep a running total on the gifts given. So, if you make such a contribution to CDM, please note it is part of "Larry's Rebate Challenge."
If you give to another organization, please let me know where and how much you are giving either here or by email to ljames@CentralDallasMinistries.org.
Contributions can be mailed to CDM at P. O. Box 710385, Dallas, Texas 75371-0385 or online through our website at http://www.centraldallasministries.org/.
Thanks for considering my challenge. I hope you'll accept it.
.
16% of our rebate check is going to Family Promise of Bryan-College Station. This is a great challenge. It's one I would like to "steal" from you, with your permission - as a challenge to Family Promise supporters in Bryan/College Station. We are an affiliate of a national non-profit that serves families who are homeless. Thanks for all the ways you encourage and educate.
ReplyDeleteBy all means, use this idea, it is not an original concept with me. Jeremy Gregg our Director of Development suggested it first here at CDM. All of my ideas, at least the good ones, are stolen anyway!
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to know how many of the folks who talk about the benefits of charity over government will be giving away their rebates to community-based non-profits????
Charity or government, it all comes from the same place--the people who go to work every day.
ReplyDeleteAnon 3:24 PM, thanks for your post.
ReplyDeleteAn additional factor that should not be overlooked is the reality that most of the urban poor work as well--the disabled, the elderly and the children usually live in a household with other who work and work hard.
The fact is most working people at this level in the neighborhoods where we work don't earn enough to get by. The advent of $4 gasoline, the rising price of food and the disappearance of most government benefits combine to make it harder and harder.
But let's not kid ourselves into thinking that the poor don't work. They do. Fair and liveable wages. . .well, that is another matter altogether.