Dear Friends,
There’s a hefty invoice that will soon land on my desk, and your support would be such a blessing. I really need your help to cover this expense.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here’s the story.
Everything began during a recent visit with my elderly and disabled Brothers in one of our retirement facilities. It was such a beautiful early spring day! There wasn’t a cloud in the bright blue sky, the temperature outside was delightful, and a warm, gentle breeze had the sweet scent of springtime.
Soon after arriving, I suggested throwing open a few windows in the community room to let in some fresh air. As I stepped toward a window, a chorus of Brothers cried, “No! Please! Don’t touch the windows!”
Towels keep out the cold draft from the Brothers’ old warped windows.
Apparently the home’s 37-year old windows were warped beyond repair. Even if you could wiggle one open, it took Herculean strength to close it again. I backed away, and that’s when I noticed that several windows had a rolled up towel on the windowsill. Apparently the windows had long since lost their seal. The towels were blocking cold drafts and puddles of springtime rain.
Enough! The situation was unacceptable and I immediately looked into replacement windows. Are you ready for the final cost? $19,026! There was only one problem. We hadn’t planned on replacing an entire home’s windows and didn’t have an extra $19,026 in our budget.
Your support is so important. Whatever you can afford – whether a gift of $15 or $25 – will be an enormous help and greatly appreciated.
I considered cutting costs by replacing only the community room windows and then gradually replacing the other rooms’ warped windows as time went on. However, the smart choice was to do everything at once. The estimate was a sale price – and on top of that, the window replacement company gave us a special quantity discount. I would lose the discount if we did each room piecemeal.
To protect this very fair, albeit hefty, price, I signed off on the purchase. In fact, our installation date is right around the corner. Now I have to come up with $19,026 to cover the invoice that will soon land on my desk.
I pray that our Marist Brothers’ friends will send a gift. Your generosity will mean so much!
I hope you understand how important every donation is – large or small. Think of the two nickels tucked in with my letter. The coins only come to 10¢, which buys almost nothing these days. Now imagine adding many more nickels and watching the total grow. In the same way, if every Marist Brothers’ friend sends a gift, the support adds up. Soon enough, we’ll have the $19,026 needed to cover our window replacement invoice!
When your gift arrives, the Brothers and I will want to show our deep appreciation for your kindness. So please, remember to write your prayer intentions on the enclosed response slip. We will thank God for your support and include your prayer intentions in our prayers for you and your loved ones.
With May in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to wish you a wonderful spring season. Just as I keep telling my elderly and disabled Brothers, throw open your windows, take pleasure in the gentle breezes, and enjoy life!
God bless you for caring,
Br. Hugh P. Turley, F.M.S.
Director of Development
