The wonderful issue about volunteering at a soup kitchen or possibly a food pantry is definitely the proximity to those that you are assisting. My Mom Marie Bilodeau, who ran the meals pantry at our church, returned property each and every week with private stories concerning the people she helped. Her experiences constantly reminded me about a book I read in college named Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne. The book had a profound effect on my view of your notion of philanthropy because it called to task any system of charity that necessarily insulates the gift-give from the receiver.

That isn’t to say that we do not have to have checks written or canned goods dropped off by folks who never ever meet these whom they help. And I’m not labeling the attending of a dinner advantage aimed at raising money for the poor “a negative thing”. Rather it's to say that we should really often at the very least make an effort to reduce the distance in between us and those we support. It is a lot more comfortable to attend a charity banquet than to help bathe the homeless like did Mother Teresa. The vision for which I'm arguing is, for that reason, one that injects a ministry not just of things but of people, namely a ministry of presence.

So I’d like to start out a project named The Gift Card Project, exactly where the gift is not as a lot the monetary donation but the particular person himself, namely YOU. I’d prefer to challenge individuals (myself included) to carry with you constantly quite a few $5 or $10 gift cards for neighborhood restaurants like McDonald’s or Burger King and maintain your eyes open for those who have to have help. It's remarkable how several people today around us are actively soliciting assistance for the duration of your weekly stroll into Walmart or though leaving the gas station.

The challenge of The Gift Card Project will be the string attached to the gift card - to possess a true conversation together with the individual to whom you are giving the gift card. Ask them how they are doing, what has brought them there. Your ministry of presence is worth more than the cash itself.

My long-term goal would be to work with restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King to make custom gift cards that, when cashed in by somebody who is homeless, let the person to return later that day for a further meal.

The Gift Card Project assists the homeless in a practical way whilst also reminding them of their own dignity, which can be not depleted for the reason that of their current state. Pivoting out of poverty initial calls for someone to think in that dignity. That is certainly the actual objective of The Gift Card Project.

Let’s encourage and learn from each other. And I’m curious about your knowledge with this challenge. Please let me know What has been your practical experience when partaking in “The Gift Card Project”?