Charitable Giving – Important Now More Than Ever

This has always been a meaningful time of the year for me.

As I am writing this, I’ve just returned from the annual Thanksgiving Dinner that The Momentum Project holds for poor and homeless persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

For those of you who don’t know, The Momentum Project has been around for the past 24 years providing food and nutrition services – hot meals and pantry bags – along with an array of support services for needy HIV-positive individuals.

Momentum became part of Village Care of New York last year.

For me, Momentum, which works to meet some of the most basic needs that individuals have, is an organization that I think of when I look around and see how much New Yorkers care.

I came to this country when I was 12 years old when my family immigrated to New York seeking the freedom and opportunities that we all think of when we hear the word “America.”  The year-end holiday season has always been, for me, a time for family, and a time to share the blessings that we have been given.

Abraham Lincoln was the first president to set aside a “day of thanksgiving,” when he asked all Americans to “solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledge…the great gifts” we have been given.

Lincoln knew that even in the midst of great crisis, we all need to take a moment to take stock, to count not only our own blessings, but to look at how we can share with those who are in need.

As we move through this holiday season and approach the new year, this is an opportunity to show your caring.

When you work for an organization such as Village Care like I do, you can’t help but see how much people in this city care about those in need – they include our dedicated staff and board members, our wonderful volunteers and the political leaders at all levels of government who take time to support what we do.

And it is most important to note that there are those who give to support
organizations such as ours as well as the dozens of other charitable endeavors and
not-for-profit groups in our community.

Charitable giving at this time of year in New York City is a long and proud tradition, and so many organizations depend on these gifts to sustain the important work that they do.

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how difficult these economic times are.  But, even so, you should keep in mind that the fiscal crisis has seriously curtailed governmental support for not-for-profit groups and providers.  We can expect more of the same in the coming months.

Because of government cutbacks, it has become extremely difficult for provider organizations to continue to offer the services that help persons living with HIV/AIDS stay healthy, and which help frail seniors to continue to live at home and in the community.

All the organizations that provide for those who have few resources of their own have made hard choices over the past year or more.  Their goal has been to keep going with that core of important and vital health care and support services for those who need help and assistance that is regular and reliable.  For those individuals, there are few options, and so many of the charitable groups that provide those options face a huge threat to their ability to continue to deliver these needed services, and even to their very survival

That makes your donation more important this year than ever before.

Every charitable organization needs your help.

You know who they are – they are the ones who are there for you, your family and your friends and neighbors when there is nowhere else to turn.

Please show how much you care this year by doing all that you can to help those who are struggling to provide that basic help that many individuals need, or who are giving care to those with disabilities and chronic conditions.

Please let those who are in need know that they are not alone – that there are those who care, and who are here for them.

Thank you.