Rev. Melissa Self Patrick posted on July 05, 2011 14:31
"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving." -Robert Louis Stevenson
Dear friends of Urban Ministry:
Love. It’s the message of the gospel. We are reminded again and again to love our neighbor; that love is the greatest commandment; that of faith, hope and love, the greatest is love.
And loving means giving. As a supporter of Urban Ministry, you have proven to be someone who gives to others, and you are key to all that we do here. We are so grateful for your willingness to engage in ministries of compassion and wholeness with us.
Now we have an opportunity to work together in a unique way. Thanks to support from the Alabama Power Foundation and other matching partners, you can increase your financial gift to Urban Ministry through our Summer Matching Campaign.
Every donation you make between July 1 and August 31 will be matched, making your contribution go farther and help more people.
When we successfully raise $45,000 during the targeted dates, our funding partners will donate an additional $20,000 to Urban Ministry. Your gift immediately increases. And the money will be coming in during the typical “summer slump,” when we most need the help.
Times are tight, and nobody feels it harder than the people we see at Urban Ministry every day, the people we serve, and the people we have to turn away because our resources have been depleted.
- Your money will be used to feed Joel, who visits our Community Kitchen regularly and always stays after to help clean up.
- Your contribution will help students like Kayla, a participant in Urban Kids who has improved her reading skills thanks to after-school tutoring and summer camp.
- Your gift will help us buy supplies for a neighbor like Johnny to get his house painted through the Joe Rush Center. It helped him maintain his homeowner's insurance and he said that he "feels like he has a brand new house."
- Your generosity helps us provide healthy, organic produce to neighbors like April, who works in WE Community Gardens so she and her family can lead more healthy lives.
We are asking individuals, Sunday school classes, and other small groups to make a total pledge of at least $100 to be donated between July 1 and August 31.
You can donate online in one gift, or spread it out over the two months. Please give prayerful consideration to this request and respond generously so we can reach our goal.
Yours in Service,
Melissa Self Patrick Robyn Hyden
Executive Director Director of Development & Communications