Donate Now

Message from the Director

May 2008

"In as much as you have done for the least of these"

Our flagpole was broken.  It's a small problem, but it really bothered me.  For several months every time I'd walk by, I would miss it.  I would think of the 4th graders who came out each day to proudly raise it outside my window and who carefully folded it each day just before school ended.  I'd think about the day I watched Shyheim, Alize, and Shaheed get drenched (gleefully, I might add!) trying to rescue Old Glory from a sudden squall.

Saturday it got fixed! Not because we bought a new one or called the local flag pole fixer, but because somebody gives his time one Saturday a month to be the UrbanPromise tinkerer. This Saturday we also got the grass cut and trimmed by some young people who wanted to serve.  Our files got sorted by some less young people (but young at heart!). Last month mulch was spread and lighting fixed.  And later this month a crew from Hercules' Aqualon group will destroy some walls and barbecue some hotdogs for our kids' year end carnival.

Flagpoles are important for a school.  But not more important than making sure our great teachers get paid, or that the lights stay on, or that the toilets keep running.  So you make choices to be the best steward of the money and goods people like you generously entrust to us.  We use your gifts for the best love and service we can offer our youth in Christ's name.  That means we don't have new furniture, lawn services, or janitors.

But there is some really good news, a kind I think Jesus would love.  People like you fix flagpoles!  They pull weeds.  They shingle roofs, scrub floors, and type letters.  Some are awesomely skilled and some are awesomely willing.  UrbanPromise could not be blessed to do the great work we do without hundreds of volunteers every year and dozens every month.  Some come every week like full time employees.

The sacrifices of our volunteers in time and materials are worth well over $100,000 a year and allow our extraordinary staff to focus more time on the kids and less on tasks. This month we are asking you to help these volunteers stretch our resources even further.  Your gift will provide tools and materials to accomplish important but deferred tasks (like fixing flagpoles!) sooner and without contract or labor expenses.

You can replace the deteriorated exterior door at Camp Promise ($500) or provide rakes and shovels for our properties ($100) or replace the rotted wood walls of Camp Promise's kitchen ($1000).  As an investment, your support for this is hard to beat, more than doubling in value because the labor will be free.

The volunteers are coming, and they are willing.  We invite you to join them by generously supporting them.  If you would like to volunteer yourself as well, call Julia at our office.We'd be delighted to hook you up.  It is exceptionally rewarding and exciting to see what the UrbanPromise community of volunteers is accomplishing to bring good news into the neighborhoods of our city.  Join us!

Rob