Using Our Stimulus Rebates to
Help Those in Greater Need
Wondering what
to do with your economic stimulus check? Have you considered giving
all or part of it to those who are truly in need?
Back in May, our
Rector, Maggie Minnick, suggested this idea in her sermon. [Link to
Rector’s Desk entry.] It has also been suggested by our Bishop and
the national Episcopal Church Office, and may have occurred to you
independently, as it did to a number of members of our congregation.
Holy Trinity has
established a special fund to which you can contribute all or any
portion of your refund. The money you contribute will go to two
charitable mission efforts already near and dear to our hearts:
-
Fabian’s
Place
– an overflow shelter for the homeless during the winter months.
-
The Bawa Health Initiative
– a mission to provide basic health needs to the desperately poor
village
of Bawa in Cameroon. (We helped them provide clean drinking water
last year, and have received a grant from the Diocese to help them
build a health clinic to serve basic medical needs in a country
ravaged by tropical diseases and suffering from high child
mortality rates.)
Why are we
doing this?
The Gospel calls
us to practice compassion and good works rather than conspicuous
consumption, and to let our light so shine before others that they
may glorify our Father in Heaven. Much of the world lives on less
than one dollar per day, and thus a $600 stimulus check can make a
big difference in the lives of some people, perhaps the difference
between life and death. Additionally, we can provide a powerful
Christian witness by putting the needs of others ahead of buying
more luxuries for ourselves.
Do I have to
contribute all of my check?
No. We will
accept any portion of your stimulus check, whether it is 100%, 50%
or 1%.
What if I need
the money to pay bills, buy gas or keep up with my mortgage?
We want this tax
rebate to go where it is most needed. That may include you. We are
well aware that economic hardships can afflict members of our
parish, and not just those in far-off lands. You might, however,
give prayerful consideration to giving some token proportion of your
rebate to those in even greater need.
What if I have
already made a charitable contribution of my check independently, or
am planning to do so?
That is great.
We ask, however, that you consider notifying us of your
contribution, so that we can add up how much members of Holy Trinity
have contributed out of their stimulus checks. Please include the
amount of your contribution.
What if I am not
a member of Holy Trinity? Can I still make a contribution?
We welcome all
contributions. However, please let us know that you are not a
member, and indicate whether you would like to be added to our
mailing list. Please also include address information so that we
can send you confirmation of your contribution for your tax
records. We would also urge you to spread this idea along to your
friends and your own place of worship if you have one, so that good
deeds may spread throughout the land.
How do I
contribute?
Please make your
contributions by check, made out to The Church of the Holy Trinity,
and marked “stimulus ministry” or “conspicuous compassion” in the
memo section. These may be place in the offering plate, along with
the
cards that are inserted in the bulletin, or mailed to the church
office, at 381 Main Street, Middletown, CT 06457. If you do not
have one of the cards we have provided, please also send a note with
your name, indicating the amount of your donation, and whether it is
all or part of your rebate. If you are not already on our rolls and
receiving annual notification of your contributions for tax
purposes, please also provide your address so we can add you to our
rolls and send you confirmation of your donation for your tax
deduction.
Can I contribute
anonymously?
Yes. If you do
not wish to have your name listed in any public roll of
contributors, please indicate this in your card or letter. (We will
not publish amounts of contributions in any case.) However, if you
wish to receive credit for tax purposes, please make sure we know
who the money is from.
Is there
anything more I can do?
Yes. Tell
people about what you have done, and what our church is doing.
This may inspire others to do likewise, and will also help to let
people who may be searching for a place to worship what kind of
congregation we are.
If I have more
questions, whom should I contact, and how?
You may direct
questions to
Steven Horst, vestry member at Holy Trinity and co-coordinator
of this campaign
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