Just before typing these words and saying a prayer of thanksgiving, along with a plea that God the Holy Spirit guides my fingers, I enjoyed a delicious chicken sandwich. And yes, it was on a plate which was set on my desk. A desk or table – what’s the difference? They both serve as a platform for placing a plate.
Oh, how we take the simplest things for granted!
Recently, a family came in who literally did not have a stick of furniture. The children were eating their meals by balancing their bowls and plates on the window sills in their apartment. By the time they came in for help, the parents and children were suffering with back pain and discomfort from sleeping on the floor. When they heard we would furnish their home, they all started crying in our office, parents and children together. As for dad, thank God, he has just started a new job.
As many of our donors know, there are numerous ways you can help. The most important way, I firmly believe, is with prayer and penance. It cannot be overstated that prayer plus penance is more powerful than prayer alone. It is this that leads to material and financial gifts. We are unique compared to other Catholic Social Service agencies in that most of the funds that come to us are private rather than governmental.
That said, in addition to your prayers and penances, material donations are key to our mission. This includes food, clothing, furniture, appliances, housewares, kitchen items, vehicles, blankets, bedding – literally anything that is able to help make a house a home.
As you can see from the story above, a little furniture can go a long way in relieving the suffering of struggling families. When donated, material items are either directly given away as described above, or sold and the profits used to help fund our many emergency services such as assistance with rent, utilities etc., or charity grants for those who cannot afford counseling services.
Then there is financial support, without which we would not survive. With cash donations, we are able to help families and individuals escape homelessness, prevent homelessness, help pay for counseling services in our many satellite offices for people who are either un-insured, or under-insured and cannot for some reason afford counseling services.
As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ who rose from the dead after his crucifixion, the definitive victory over sin and death, let us be most grateful because we are members of the mystical Body of Christ. We too, by the grace of God, are destined to share in the resurrection of the dead. Let us never overlook this precious, unmerited gift. In a same manner let us never overlook the daily blessings that may seem so mundane as eating a meal on a desk or table!
