BEGGARS IN YOUR MAILBOX

BEGGARS IN YOUR MAILBOX

Sunday, November 23, 2014

1Corinthians [ESV] 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

  Today’s title is not original with me. I heard it from a cynical man years ago. Another scornful acquaintance refers to the postal packets as “Beggar mail”.

  Dad believed Boy’s Town founder Father Flanagan was the first brilliant fundraising strategist to use mass mailings soliciting financial support. And that Flanagan was the first to understand the affect of poignant phrase and photo to loosen purse strings, including my non-church going father’s. (In adulthood I’ve wondered if maybe it was actually Flanagan’s un-famous sister that was the brains. ??)

  By any measure, since Flanagan our mailboxes are full of appeals for money, increasingly so the last 6 or 8 weeks of the year. Some packets include the extra incentive of guilt-gift(s) to you and/or matching fund pledges from some anonymous donor.

  How do we respond to these cash seeking epistles?

·         Trash or shred a portion or one and all.

·         Give what for us is a nominal amount to each one.

·         Allow heartstring vibrations makes the choices.

·         Check for bona fides.

·         Investigate percentages going to salaries, overhead costs, and the actual to-neediness.

·         Prayerfully choose and send money to.

  There is yet another way to support charities that are asking for your money when you do not nor have any intention of giving them one cent.

  First understand that it cost organizations $3 to over $20 every year per address mailings, this whether you give or not. For those we don’t respond to with a donation we can save them from wasting this cost; something I consider a form of charity in itself.

·         Write or type “PLEASE REMOVE MY NAME FROM ALL MAILING LISTS.” On blank 8.5x11 sheet of paper. (It need not be in red.)

·         Tape their response label or form to the paper leaving your cancellation request showing.

·         Fold and place in standard #10 envelope.

·         Seal, then address to organization. (I cut out & tape their address to envelope.)

·         Affix first class stamp and mail.

  Again, doing the above is wise stewardship, will save charities wasted funds . . . and for less than a dollar invested it will save us from having so much beggar mail in our mailboxes.

EBB4