There has been much made recently of the Success Grant* initiative and we’ve had more emphasis on this than other programs in the early going since the relaunch of the site, BUT long term the program that I’d like us to be most known for isn’t the Success Grant or the DurhamCares trips program it’s Volunteer Matching.

You’ve probably heard from us before that we’ve been inspired to create DurhamCares due to the two applications that we take away from the Parable of the Good Samaritan** : the broader definition of neighbor AND the physical love that the Samaritan provided for the Jewish traveller on the side of the road.

But, for a more contemporary take on the importance of being engaged in a community and the offering up of physical love, we take some inspiration from Marvin Olasky’s book, “The Tragedy of American Compassion” too. This book and its author are well known as being the basis for George Bush’s “Compassionate Conservatism.”  Whether you liked George Bush or not (and if late opinion polls are an indicator, you probably didn’t), Olasky’s work should be interesting to us all for his ability, as an historian, to chronicle the application of caring for those in need by looking back over 400 years of history. I found this history to be absolutely fascinating. He argues, and I’m inclined to agree, that the time in our history in which we did the best job of caring for the poor and the sick was when we took them in to our homes. From families in Upstate New York taking in orphans, to neighbors going door to door to take care of the hungry and sick, we were experts in providing mercy ministry. Our predecessors didn’t require any translation or illustration on applying Christ’s commands to take care of the least of these from the pulpit on Sunday.  They knew it, practiced it and lived it. Some quick thoughts that struck me:

1. They were much more in tune with the needs of those worse off because they saw their troubles first hand. They knew which initiatives should be funded and which ones shouldn’t…...with this type of intimate buy-in, they undoubtedly gave more than 1% of their incomes to charity (as our DurhamCares survey shows that we do).
2. Mercy limited mercy. There wasn’t welfare free-loading (or living off the system). When the person being helped was equipped to take care of themselves, they were sent off to do so.
3. They learned first hand that it is truly more blessed to give than receive.
4. In being physically involved with those they helped (as opposed to a government agency or charity intermediary) they more fully lived out commands of Christ to take care of those in need.

So, with all of this said, and knowing that we do really think that the Success Grant IS a good way to help fund charities, we’d MUCH RATHER help those in Durham to be actively engaged in Durham with their TIME, not just their MONEY. Please help us to help you through the Volunteer Match service on the website. Tell us what special talents or interests that you have. Let us work with you to find a sustained, committed volunteering relationship. It doesn’t cost you a thing, but it just might change your life and your city.

Thank you for loving (not just funding) your neighbor!

*The reason for this is primarily due to the more public way in which we inventory results of those pledging to the Success Grant and that we want to create a sense of momentum and “critical mass” as we seek to offer up a way to reward charities for planning and making their goals.

**for a 3rd click here for Mike Schneider’s blog.

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