The Bottom Line
- from the editor of local biz alliance.com
When I first started asking local business folks about doing a promotion to help the Harvest House, I heard a lot of things. I heard about business being slow, a poor economy, I heard about how hard it is to be in business for yourself, and at first, frankly, i was a little worried about getting involved in such a promotion... After all, I considered, isn't our website mostly about and for folks who are making their own way in the world, through their often hard won efforts, and sense of independence? And Small Business people are not working with big corporate sized budgets. One guy actually said to me, "So, if i give 20 bucks, what's that gonna change? Buy somebody lunch?"
But I met one small business owner, who has a shop in Burleson. She lives in Masnfield, Texas. I asked her, after talking to a few other small business owners what she thought about supporting the Harvest House through the website.
"When our house burned down, they were the first people to call us, and see what they could do to help. They called before our church did. Yeah, I'll be happy to help local biz alliance with their promotion of Harvest House. They were a huge help to our family when we needed someone to help. We got right on with the business of getting our house fixed up, and getting on with our lives, but that's one local charity that is out looking for people to help, and not just sitting around... Just Tell me what we can do."
I've heard that story repeated again and again, as I've started to talk to area business people and residents about the Harvest House, in one form or another..
I quickly came to realize that this the type of effort we should all get behind and support as much as possible. Whatthe Harvest House does, without tax confiscated money, is help people in various kinds of trouble get back on their feet so that they can become the customer at your cash register again. Since the donations are not filtered through a beaurocracy, more of the dollars given get where the people who gave them were meant to go. Hey, the Harvest House runs on a shoestring budget, and is staffed mostly by volunteers. A lot of their referrals come from word of mouth. The office equipment they use is donated. There's not an ounce of fat on this enterprise. It's actually looking sort of lean. But definitely not mean. Because they have 20 years worth of heart warming stories that make you actually think we all just might make it as a society, as long as there are people like these in the world.
Yeah, to the guy who asked about buying somebody lunch, I can only say, it might be important to buy somebody lunch, especially after a fire has destroyed the part of your house with all of your financial documentation in it... Lunch might be all somebody needs....while things get worked out. But the Harvest House does MUCH more than that. That 20 bucks might buy enough school supplies to get one that family's kid's started back to school through the "little Red Scoolhouse" program that Harvest House runs, or it might provide a voucher for gas money so someone can get to a job interview, you never know...it might pay for a round of antibiotics. People have different needs at different times, for reasons that vary widely. 20 bucks might be a really big deal to one person one time... or it might buy you a nice lunch. It might feed four or five people. Depending on the circumstances, it might make all the differnce to someone...
The Harvest House knows how to stretch a buck, I've seen it first hand. That 20, filtered through the tax system might end up bestowing $3.00 or $4.00 bucks to the same recipient. We all know how the government works, and how they are famous for handling money with their acclaimed effiency. And the beauty of giving to an organization like the Harvest House? You'll love this! It's Tax Deductible! You do the math, you think about the logic.
To parapphrase an old prophet, As for Our Website, and Most of Our Adverisers, We Will Support The Harvest House.
You can too... Right here, right now. And you dont have to give $20.00, or just $20.00... any amount you give is appreciated, and goes directly where it's needed.
Save that receipt, and send THAT to Uncle Sam...
One Story at A Time
"Harvest House provided me with financial assistance and with the help of St. Matthew's "Cars for Christ" program, provided me with a car so that I can now work and provide for myself." - Kelly, Burleson, Tx.
__________________
I had a potentially life threatening infection last March, and the Harvest House was there to help with the perscriptions I desperately needed. They were there in my time of need.
- Sherry Deaton
___________
The Harvest House was there for our family of six when my husband was suddenly and unexpectedly laid off from his job. I'm Thankful that there are places like the Harvest House. They helped us through that time with our electric and propane bills when we really need it most.
- Lynnette Walker
____
