On a cold and snowy Saturday morning this winter an email alert came through to my phone. As I read the email alerting me to a recent donation my heart leapt for joy. Someone had given a $2 donation and I was deeply touched by this act of love and generosity. While some may scoff at a $2 donation, it instantly brought to mind the parable of the widow’s offering, found in Mark 12: 41-44. If you are unfamiliar with it, it says:
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
We say over and over that every dollar makes a difference, and truly I tell you it does! Our honor wall in our new home will feature an apple tree, recognizing those who were a part of the Green Apple Initiative. There will be different colored apples for certain levels of donation over $1,000. Every donation from $0.01 to $999.99 will be honored with a leaf. There will be abundantly more leaves on the trees than apples in the orchard. Stop and think about the leaves that fall in our yards in autumn. If only one leaf fell it wouldn’t feel like much. But when all of the leaves fall it is overwhelming. We have been overwhelmed with gifts from donors adding up to over $355,000, or 85% of our goal. We would love to add your name to our honor wall too.
As work begins drawing to a close on the new home of The Pantry and we get closer to resuming services, we cannot help but stopping and thinking of how this community has rallied around the neighbors in need who turn to The Pantry for assistance. Many, like the widow in the parable, give in ways most cannot imagine because of their constrained resources. One answered the call to help ensure The Pantry would remain a hub of caring and support in the community for years to come with a $2 gift and it humbled me to know they were so kind and caring. I hope it is returned to them over and over again in their lives and that they know the impact they had on others.
Blessings to all,
Karrie
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