Clothing, Soap, Toothpaste, and more!
When the “door” for safe travel to Haiti closed three years ago, it affected our ministry at Source of Life in many ways. Jacques found two windows of opportunity to make brief trips to the home in 2019. But you may remember that he and Pastor Vern had to be evacuated by helicopter from Gressier on one of those visits! In the two and a half years since, the children have not seen Papi Jacques. Certainly they miss him, and he misses them!
Another major change in the ministry of Source of Life has happened because teams cannot visit the home. Most of us realize that the Guest House Project has been on hold as well as some of our new ministry goals, but many of us might not realize that the way the children are supplied with clothing, soap, toothpaste and other supplies has also changed!
The expenses for clothing and supplies have never been part of the SLM annual budget. When teams were able to travel to the children’s home, their luggage was always full of clothing and supplies. Churches and individuals donated items, and Jacques and Marie shopped local second hand stores, then visiting teams transported everything in their luggage. Occasionally a container was packed with supplies and transported by ship. Since we are unable to safely travel or send shipments to Haiti, everything has to be purchased in Haiti at prices that are often 3x’s the prices in the U.S.!
Speaking of our budget . . . Because of the generosity of God’s people, we are currently able to meet our budget each month. But we do not have a “cushion” for unexpected and emergency needs. Inflation continues to affect Haiti with prices increasing for everything every single month during 2021.
In just a few days, the world’s biggest day of generosity will be recognized for nonprofit organizations. Tuesday, November 30th is GivingTuesday around the world, and we are reaching out to our SLM friends and supporters to consider helping us raise the funds needed to purchase clothing in Haiti for our children, purchase the necessary supplies for them, and create a small emergency fund for 2022. During 2021, purchasing clothing and supplies in Haiti required an additional $10,000 beyond our budget. Our goal is to raise a total of $13,000 between GivingTuesday and the end of 2021. It would be a blessing for Source of Life to start 2022 with the funds needed for clothing and supplies plus a small emergency fund. Would you ask God what He will enable you to do?
Please consider this blog as a “heads-up” before GivingTuesday. Although donations are welcome anytime, we will officially start the fundraiser by posting it on Facebook on November 30th and will continue updating you as the fundraiser continues.
God bless you for all you do for the children and ministry of Source of Life!
Jacques Merine
Director, Source of Life Ministries
Ways to give:
Both one-time donations and monthly donations will help. Please do not think that any amount is too small. Every $5 donation will help us prepare for the coming year and continue providing for the nineteen children and staff members at our safe home!
✅ Use the donate button on our website at www.sourceoflifeministries.com. The button appears on the top right corner of every page on our website. When you donate through the website, please note “for 2022 supplies” in the box labeled, “Comment/Project Designation.” After donating, please immediately send a private Facebook message or email sherry@sourceoflifeministries.com to tell us 3 things:
* whether your gift was one-time -or- a recurring pledge,
* the $AMOUNT of your gift and
* METHOD (Facebook, Website, or Mail) of your gift.
This will make it possible for us to post updates on Facebook, showing the total pledges to date.
✅ By check or money order to: TSM/Source of Life Ministries, c/o Jacques Merine, Founder, P.O. Box 96, Hanover, PA 17331. Please note “for 2022 supplies” on the memo line. After donating, please immediately send a private Facebook message or email sherry@sourceoflifeministries.com to tell us 3 things:
* whether your gift was one-time -or- a recurring pledge,
* the $AMOUNT of your gift and
* METHOD (Facebook, Website, or Mail) of your gift.
This will make it possible for us to post updates on Facebook, showing the total pledges to date.
✅ Use the donate button attached to our Facebook post. Note: Facebook takes NO fees from these donations. As soon as you give, Facebook will respond to you with a thank-you and a receipt for income tax purposes. Facebook will notify us of the total amounts given, but we do not receive a break-down of the names and amounts. No separate receipt can be sent by SLM.
Another important way to help:
We need you to share this message with your family & friends. You can send it through email or share it on your Facebook page. When you share the message with others, please add a brief message about your love for this ministry. If you share it on Facebook, we suggest waiting until our Facebook fundraiser is live on GivingTuesday. It will help if you copy and paste our heading and first several paragraphs when your share it on your page.