The Gift Card Project
09/11/2017 07:18
The excellent issue about volunteering at a soup kitchen or perhaps a food pantry may be the proximity to those you are helping. My Mom Marie Bilodeau, who ran the food pantry at our church, returned home every single week with individual stories concerning the individuals she helped. Her experiences always reminded me about a book I read in college named Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. The book had a profound effect on my view with the notion of philanthropy since it named to task any method of charity that necessarily insulates the gift-give in the receiver. Get a lot more information about gift card project
That is not to say that we don’t have to have checks written or canned goods dropped off by people today who under no circumstances meet those whom they support. And I’m not labeling the attending of a dinner benefit aimed at raising money for the poor “a negative thing”. Rather it is to say that we need to normally at least attempt to reduce the distance amongst us and those we enable. It truly is more comfy to attend a charity banquet than to assist bathe the homeless like did Mother Teresa. The vision for which I'm arguing is, thus, 1 that injects a ministry not only of issues but of people, namely a ministry of presence.
So I’d like to commence a project called The Gift Card Project, where the gift is not as much the monetary donation however the person himself, namely YOU. I’d like to challenge individuals (myself included) to carry with you all the time various $5 or $10 gift cards for neighborhood restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King and preserve your eyes open for all those who need help. It really is awesome how quite a few individuals around us are actively soliciting assistance through your weekly walk into Walmart or though leaving the gas station.
The challenge of The Gift Card Project may be the string attached to the gift card - to possess a genuine conversation together with the individual to whom you will be giving the gift card. Ask them how they're carrying out, what has brought them there. Your ministry of presence is worth greater than the money itself.
My long term target is usually to operate with restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King to make custom gift cards that, when cashed in by someone who is homeless, let the particular person to return later that day for an additional meal.
The Gift Card Project helps the homeless inside a practical way whilst also reminding them of their very own dignity, which can be not depleted mainly because of their current state. Pivoting out of poverty very first requires a person to think in that dignity. Which is the actual purpose of The Gift Card Project.
Let’s encourage and understand from one another. And I’m curious about your knowledge with this challenge. Please let me know What has been your encounter whilst partaking in “The Gift Card Project”?