For those of you who followed our work with Alan Law and the Sandwich making project, here is Alans end of the year letter. Wonderful work we got to participate in! Dear Friend, Every year during the holiday season, I stop to reflect on all of the things MRD has to be thankful for…..and this year it’s a remarkably long list! Personally, I am thankful that Ive been blessed to remain cancer free since my prostate surgery in March 2013. Words alone can’t express how grateful I am for the privilege to continue working on the streets every night, or my appreciation for the many prayers, and messages of support Ive received! In addition, this year MRD has received an unprecedented outpouring of support on behalf of the Twin Cities homeless community we serve: Record 363 Days Food Program Support: 750 sandwich events were held, with over 10,000 individual participants, resulting in 700,000 donated sandwiches. Samaritans Outreach: Year to date weve received enough donated winter clothing, blankets, backpacks, and personal care items to meet our needs through April 2015. Youth Builders “Back to School” Program: This year we had enough donor support to provide over 200 new backpacks filled with school supplies to homeless and underprivileged children! Starfish & The Sandwich Man: MRD was honored to be featured in the 2014 documentary “The Starfish Throwers”, and recent YouTube video The Sandwich Man that has generated over 630,000 views. NBC Nightly News also ran a feature on MRD in December Sandwich Man Delivers Helping of Hope to Hungry. MRD’s primary goal is serving the homeless in need every night by providing urgently needed food, basic necessities, and on-the-street compassion and support. Our ultimate goal is to help people achieve a more stable, independent, and productive life. Operating on a total budget of $170,000, with in kind donations included the 3 programs of MRD will deliver a staggering $1,200,000+ in overall support in 2014. The economy has created a steady increase in homelessness, but has also led to a sharp -35% decline in our financial donations this year. Our most critical current need is adequate funding for bus tokens this winter. Riding the bus offers the homeless safe refuge from the streets, and a place to get out of the cold. In winter I distribute over 200 tokens each night to the many unable to get into over capacity shelters. Fortunately, we’re able to purchase tokens at half price as a nonprofit. I know that the economy has made finding money to donate difficult for everyone, especially at the holidays. But we would be extremely grateful if you would please consider making a Tax Deductible financial donation of any size. You can donate on our website mrdinc.org, or by mail to: Minneapolis Recreation Development, Inc.7220 York Ave S. #610 Edina, MN 55435. If you have any questions, want more information email mrd.363days@gmail, or call (612) 423-9923. Sincerely, Allan Law
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:55:28 +0000
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