Dear Friends,
As the seasons change, I find myself worrying about the power going out. You’ve probably experienced an electrical outage – so you know the shock and confusion everyone feels when the lights go out. You’re immersed in darkness. No television or radio. No landlines or cell phone chargers. No hum from the refrigerator or air conditioner.
For our elderly and disabled Brothers, a power outage is more than an inconvenience. Even a brief power failure is dangerous.
Last summer, several storms hit a smaller Marist Brothers’ retirement facility – and each time the rain poured down the power went out. During one outage, my dear friend Br. Jim, who has Parkinson’s disease, became disoriented in the darkness. He tumbled as he tried to find his chair and suffered physical pain as well as frustration.
The hazards continue. Several Brothers require medication that must be refrigerated. Without power, food will soon spoil. And when the electricity goes out, there’s no heat, no air conditioning, and no hot water.
To prevent these, and so many more dangers, we installed a backup generator that takes over when the municipal power grid fails. But the financial cost was more than expected. The grand total came to $8,947 – including the generator as well as a complex installation process.
It was a lot of money, and it took a big bite out of our budget, but we had to protect our elderly and disabled Brothers’ safety.
Today I ask for your financial support. The new backup generator stretched our budget mighty thin, and we could really use your help. Can we count on your gift? Whether you can afford to share $15, $25, or more, your generosity will be greatly appreciated.
A power outage is nerve-wracking even when it only lasts a few hours. But if you live in a community where tornados, hurricanes, ice storms, or other serious weather events bring lengthy power outages, then you also know about the life-threatening repercussions! And the consequences quickly increase for our elderly and disabled Brothers.
When the power is out – and there’s no telling when it will come back on – the simplest activity can become treacherous. Without lights, a disabled Brother is left to navigate one dark room after another. When the power goes out, and nothing in the kitchen functions, putting together even a simple meal becomes difficult.
I hope you understand that time was of the essence. We couldn’t risk another Brother suffering a hazardous fall. At the same time, I hope you understand how important your gift is. It’s like the two nickels tucked in with my letter. The coins alone can’t buy much – but when you add many more nickels, the total grows. In the same way, when every Marist Brothers’ friend sends a gift the support adds up.
Every gift counts and you can make a difference!
When your gift arrives, my Brothers and I will thank God for your generosity during our daily prayers in Chapel. We also look forward to including your intentions in a Mass dedicated to our devoted donors – held on the first Monday of each month. So, please…take a moment to write your intentions on the enclosed response slip and send it along with your gift.
We look forward to hearing from you. Until then, every Marist Brother wishes you pleasant days – filled with good health, happiness, and time to enjoy every moment.
