At Harbor
House, we are largely funded by private donations. Consequently, we
have fundraising events and demonstrate to donors that we are, in fact, a
worthy recipient of their gift. In fact, one purpose of this blog is so donors
can see the impact they are making every day. I think that
transparency is good for the donors. I also think it's good for the
kids of Harbor House to know that these donations allow us to pay for
everything, in spite of several people asking if we "shielded" the kids
and interns from knowing that people donated to them, as it may
reinforce the kids' sense of inequity. Practically, it would be hard to conceal: we bring donors through on tours frequently and children (just like the rest of us) are curious about the people walking through their program. But it's a conscious choice, not an expedient one. We do not shield them, we celebrate the donations and use them as examples. I have seen incredible responses from the children when they know that complete strangers want them to have a good program. The idea that other people, most of whom haven't met them, would like to help them out, thrills them. Let me explain:
Announcements
happen right before devotion time and some of my favorite announcements
are about fundraisers and donations. We talk a lot about all being
part of God's family, whether we are related by blood or not. They love
to hear of creative ways people help us: supplying cakes for the
cakewalk at our carnival, bringing volunteers to clean the house and
provide snack, setting up and paying for field trips, tutoring kids
right here, and raising money for everything we need. And the kids are
good at thinking of what takes money! When I asked them, the list
included "water to flush the toilets, snack you buy us, paying the
interns, pencils, field trips, phones to call our parents..." and on and
on.
A recent announcement was fun to share with the kids. One of our volunteers whom the kids know and love chose to include a request for donations to Harbor House on his wedding registry. I first explained what a wedding registry is, and then how he and his wife are passing up some extra presents so that people will donate to Harbor House instead. The kids thought that was amazing and so incredibly generous.
But our kids are not only the recipients of generosity. Although they are primarily low-income, they are themselves very generous people. They have
great hearts and love to
share (most of the time - they are still children) and help each other out. I have seen countless examples of kids giving pencils or toys to each other, or choosing a prize and passing up their first choice so someone else can have it. In addition, when we pray for people who have had something difficult happen, the kids often ask if they can make a card or picture for that person.
And
that is another reason why I think it is good for the kids to see the
generosity that they receive, so they reflect it in their own lives.
