THE IMPACT OF GIVING
As a non-profit organization, Shamineau Ministries relies on lots of donations from lots of people that believe in this ministry. But who are those donors? Are they “deep-pocket” individuals, or businesses, or churches? Are they lots and lots of smaller donors giving monthly and in offering plates?
The answer is, “Yes”. It’s all of those. And all of those are needed. Truth be told, we don’t have a lot of the “deep pocket” folks, though we are extremely grateful to those who have given sizable dollar gifts. In the 32 years I have been here, I know of 4 gifts that were over $100,000. Those were amazing, game-changer, gifts that came at just the right time. I can count several more gifts over $20,000. But the majority of our giving comes from lots and lots of smaller donors. Don’t get me wrong, $5,000 and $10,000 gifts are not “small” and the $10, $25 and $100 gifts given by those who are stretching just as much to give are not small either.
I remember receiving a $100,000 and a $500,000 gift and being humbled and moved to tears, but I’m equally moved by a family I know that has given $10 a month for over 20 years. I’m just as thankful for the $5 gift and the $50 one-time gift received this month.
In the past weeks we received two gifts that blew me away. Two of our summer staff sent their summer salary back to camp as a gift. College and high school age. Summer salary. The stretch they each made to make that gift was as monumental as any gift we’ve received for camp. The letters received from these students were deeply encouraging as they talked about the impact camp had on their life.
Where do our donations come from? They come from you, and you, and you, and you. They come in all amounts and each one is important, because together, they change eternity for hundreds of kids each year. Some day, on the other side of eternity, you will each get to see the impact your gift made …and you can join me in shedding humble tears of joy over the impact we, together, have had.
