Giving thanks

Without fail, the holiday season always brings to mind a particular image for me:  my father at the dining room table, going through his shoebox full of charity appeals.

Throughout the year he would deposit all the appeals he and Mom received in the same shoebox in our cupboard. One day each year, he would go through the box and decide who to write checks to, and for how much (they also regularly tithed to their church).

I received a letter from a member last week who perhaps was going through his own shoebox.

He wrote to say that he would not be able to renew his OLCV membership due to his economic situation. I set the letter aside, planning to reply to it when I had a moment, to thank him for writing and for his past support.

But this week, I received another letter from him, this time with a check for $50. He wrote that he had come into some unexpected money and wanted to make sure he got his OLCV gift in.

I immediately called him to thank him. He told me that OLCV’s work was important to him, and he was just happy to be able to support it.

I’ve worked with OLCV for five years now, and have long known that we have the best supporters in the world. In this time of economic uncertainty, I have had members call me to see if they could send a little extra money in. I’ve had members walk into my office and say, “I should be a monthly donor. That would help you, right?” And now this unexpected membership renewal, from someone who had already taken the time to let me know he might not be able to help right now.

Of course, giving during tough economic times is not really an unusual experience for most of us. Studies show that over 70% of Americans give money away, and the most generous donors (in terms of what percentage of their income they donate) are the very rich – and the very poor. We give because we believe in the work the organization is doing in our community, and we give even though that means we give something else up in exchange.

In my family, my parents, five siblings and I lived in a 1,200-square-foot house with one bathroom. We never went hungry, but I don’t remember us ever having much extra. But Mom and Dad always gave, and taught us to do the same, because giving is part of our citizenship in our community.

In this season of thankfulness, let me say a very genuine and heartfelt “thank you” to all of OLCV’s members, large and small donors alike, who have helped OLCV accomplish so much through the years. Thank you for keeping OLCV at the top of your shoebox in these especially challenging times. Every day I am moved by your generosity. Like my parents, and like the member who wrote us just this week, you are all heroes to me.