New Year’s Greetings Dear Friends,
What a year 2020 was! I’m looking forward to new beginnings in 2021 – and the news looks promising. But until we understand how to prevent the spread of COVID-19, always remember that you are in every Marist Brother’s prayers. We ask God to keep our friends – like you – safe and healthy.
There’s another important matter that weighs
heavy on my mind these days. The budget to care for our elderly and disabled Marist Brothers is short by $53,498. I’m concerned that we may not be able to give these good men the modest, yet dignified, quality of life they deserve.
We’re relying on your generosity to help ease the $53,498 shortfall in our 2021 budget!
We spent weeks working on this year’s budget! But between continuing COVID-19 safety-related expenses, the ever-rising cost of living, and increasing medical fees, we’re already falling behind – and it’s only January.
Whether you can afford to share $15, $25, or more, your gift is important and it will make a difference. If everyone pulls together, we can strengthen our 2021 budget and continue to give our elderly and disabled Brothers the quality of care we all want them to have.
We’re counting on your gift to our 2021 budget so we may continue to protect our elderly Brothers’ health and wellness!
We understand that everyone has faced unprecedented challenges this past year. For us, crucial challenges include
a significant increase in new expenses to keep our elderly Brothers safe during this pandemic – and these expenses
carried over into 2021! Every month we purchase PPE equipment for our onsite medical staff, and we also continue
to follow stringent sanitizing procedures in all Marist Brothers’ retirement facilities.
A dip in gifts is another challenge that’s impacting our 2021 budget to care for our elderly Brothers. Of course, we know the decrease is because our friends have
been caring for their own family and perhaps they feel that a smaller gift will not make a difference. I want to stress that every gift matters! Consider the two nickels with my letter. Now imagine adding many more nickels and watching the total grow. In the same way, if every Marist Brothers’ friend sends a gift – large or small – the support adds up. Together, we will build up our 2021 budget to care for our elderly Brothers.
My Brothers and I look forward to expressing our gratitude for your gift as soon as it arrives, and we also want to include your intentions in a special Mass held on the first Monday of each month and dedicated to our devoted donors. So please, write your intentions on the enclosed response slip and send it back to me along with your gift.
In closing, I want to thank you for helping us care for our elderly and disabled Brothers. Your kindness is greatly appreciated.
