Dear Friends:
This is our final appeal of our 2024 Sustainer Appeal. Please make an effort, if you can, to make your donor pledge.
Sustainer donors are transformational donors who have committed to supporting our ministry to the “least, the last, and the left out” using any regular frequency (monthly, quarterly, or annually). The most important part of your sustained giving is that it is continued giving.
Over the years you have patiently listened to all my different appeals and, thankfully, many of you have responded. This year I want to treat you to two stories about a couple of beneficiaries of your sustainer donations.
The first story happened in the first week of June. I was sitting outside the LittleStore getting some of that warm June sun when I noticed a pickup pulling into a parking spot three cars down to my right. As it passed by, I noticed that it had a large number of trash bags loaded with returnable bottles and cans. “The cash crop,” I thought to myself.
A woman got out and came over to me and asked, “Redemption store?” I didn’t recognize her, so I knew she was in the wrong place. She wanted the redemption store around the corner from the LittleStore. “No,” I replied, the redemption store is around the corner and I pointed out to her how she needed to go back out on Canterbury Street, turn right at Cambridge Street and the store would be on her right. She started to laugh when she realized she was in the wrong parking lot. She thanked me and said, “You know, I used to get Christmas gifts for my two boys every year from you.” “Oh, really,” I replied, “Do you still come for toys?” “Oh no,” she said with a big smile, “They are 27 and 24 years old now, it was over twenty years ago when I used to come.” I laughed and said, “Well, we are still passing out Christmas gifts. In fact, it will be almost 45 years this coming October.” She really started to laugh and said, “You mean you started this when I was one year old!” Now we were both laughing as we said our goodbyes. She got into her pickup and headed off to the redemption store and I could see she was still laughing as she passed by on her way to Cambridge Street.
A week after that first encounter, Kathy and I had another one while we were standing by the counter at the LittleStore. A middle-aged Spanish woman approached us and asked, “Do you remember me?” This is always a very dangerous question because we almost always never have any idea who the person is or what took place. (Who looks just like they did 20 years ago?) So we answered, “How do you know us?” “I worked in the LittleStore on Main Street. You helped me get a job.”
So now we knew she was a participant in our “work training program.” We received a grant to help people on welfare gain work skills and find jobs; we also included newly arrived refugees. It was a great program, and we had a very high placement rate of over 60%.
“Did you work in our job placement program?” I asked. And with a big smile on her face she said, “Yes I did. In 1994 and I am still working.” “Why are you here today?” I asked. “Just donating some household items to help out,” she said. “And I am so glad to see you are still helping people out. Thank you.” And with that, she gave me a big hug.
It doesn’t get any better than that!!
Now I ask you, are you ready to become a sustainer? If you begin a sustainer donation or increase an existing one, we will send you one of our Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope Tee shirts.
All you need to do is go to our website at: www.urbanmissionaries.com/donations and sign up as a sustainer, either by clicking on the “just click here” button to make your donation conveniently from your bank account or clicking on the “donate” button to make your donation via PayPal with the credit card of your choice, or you can simply send us your sustainer check on a frequency of your choosing. When you are done, email us at mailbox@urbanmissionaries.com and let us know the size of the Tee shirt you would like and your mailing address, and we will mail it out to you.
We will be notified of your donation and will respond with a Thank You letter that can be used for your taxes. And know that your decision to help will be blessed. If we can be of any help with the sustainer process or answer any questions you may have, please do not hesitate to contact us at 508-831-7455 or at mailbox@urbanmissionaries.com.
Thank you and may the Peace of the Lord be upon you and yours,
Walter and Kathy Doyle
Co-directors, Urban Missionaries of Our Lady of Hope