by Holly Anderson, Executive Director
When my daughter was a toddler, she went to a daycare where she learned among other things, about the Jewish holiday called Purim. This is a joyous holiday with a great tale, costumes and special cookies called hamantaschen.
There is also a very serious part of the holiday about giving. The gist of it is that everyone, no matter how poor has something to give someone less fortunate. When I first read this, I was taken aback.
My mother lives on Social Security Disability and has about $30 after she pays rent and utilities. (In full disclosure, she lives in California, which is expensive, even for low-income housing.) I remember calling her and telling her about the holiday and the concept. She said that she could relate and when she could, she would give $5 to $10 to charity. “It’s not much, but it has to help a little,” she said.
I was surprised to hear it and asked how did she ever have an extra $5? She said, “I care about the environment, and I figure I can go without some sweet thing or lotion to help save it.” She then reminded me of a Christmas song she likes to sing, “Christmas is coming the geese are getting fat, won’t you please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny a ha’penny will do. If you haven’t got a ha’penny, God Bless You!” I guess the value of giving is a part of many beliefs.
As a nonprofit fundraiser, I have noticed over the years that the percentage of income that people give is disproportionate to the amount they give. You’ll have your investment banker friend who gets a company match give you $30 for your charity bike ride and your friend who was just laid off gives you $200. Why we give, what we give, and to whom we give is incredibly personal. Frankly, to me it doesn’t matter what you decide to give. What matters is that we all find a way to give.
We are excited to be brand new participants in NewsMatch. NewsMatch is a collaborative fundraising movement to support independent, public service journalism like ours. Since 2016, the campaign has helped raise over $223 million to support independent media outlets that produce fact-based, nonpartisan news and information.
In December, NewsMatch will match your new monthly donation 12 times or double your one-time gift, all up to $1,000. That means that through NewsMatch, we can raise an additional $15,000!
For a small, independent, nonprofit organization like Access Press, this is a big deal and will help us deliver the kind of disability community-focused journalism you’ve come to expect. It’s the kind of reporting that can make a real difference in our community.
Typically, as people think about making charitable gifts, news sources don’t top the list. This is why public radio and TV have weeklong pledge drives. We at Access Press also have to remind our readers that we depend on your support. While we do offer advertising, it does not cover all of our costs. This year we are asking you to find that crumpled up $5 or $10 or $1,000 you have lying around and give it to your favorite Minnesota disability newspaper. In full disclosure we are the only one in Minnesota. You will make double the impact.
What do you say? Will you help to sustain your trusted source of disability-related, pity-free news?
Community funded, community driven: that’s the nonprofit news difference. Make a donation today
