Yes We Can Van Campaign

Building Something Together

2008-07-22T13:52:00.000-07:00

Yes We Can!

As you’ll read in this week’s word (see below), we did it! We raised enough money to buy the van. Actually, we raised more than enough. Our goal was $11,700 and we raised $12,471 – over $700 more. The excess will be used for van accessories like floor mats, gas cards, etc. Thank you for taking part, whether in prayer, in spreading the word or in finances.

“Shallum…repaired the next section with the help of his daughters. The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it and put its doors and bolts and bars in place.” (Nehemiah 3.12-13a)

There is more joy building something together than building it alone. That’s what I learned from many of you. Three months ago we started a campaign called the Yes We Can Van Campaign. The point of the project was to raise enough money to buy a reliable, safe, somewhat new van for a family of six – one mother and five children. And you know what? You came through. I just signed the check and handed the keys over, watched as the salesman showed Lorraine the features of her new van. And I was filled with joy at what we did together.

It was a little what Nehemiah might have felt as he surveyed the new walls of Jerusalem, after they had been rebuilt. You see, the beloved city’s walls were broken down by wars – destroyed and burned-out. Nehemiah thought he should do something. So he rallied the entire community to rebuild the walls. And they did it together. If you read the book of Nehemiah, you know what I mean that they did it together. I don’t know how many individuals are mentioned by name, but it’s a lot. Each adds his or her own part: Shallum and his daughters, they repair one part of the wall; Hanun and the people of Zanoah, they attach the doors and bolts and bars (You know the old saying – Get your hardware from Zanoah, don’t you know – ah); and others, well, they do their part to complete the wall.

So while we didn’t build a wall, we built a van, many of us.

Of the 57 donors, 49 are individuals, three are businesses and five are non-profit organizations. We come from ten different states and even Canada. We are professors and programmers, students and salesmen, baristas and book worms, golfers and grannies. Some of us work from home; some of us don’t leave the office; some of us are unemployed. We’re preparing to marry, preparing to travel, preparing to homeschool, preparing to study. Some of us are rich and not very old while others are old and not very rich. A bunch are in-between. But it doesn’t matter. Point is we built a van – together.

I think it’s more satisfying this way – 57 donors total – than if one person wrote a big check. Sure, that would have been cool and it would have been quick, but we would have missed out on building together. The story would have gone like this:

Daddy Warbucks bought a van.

Whereas the story we wrote is more like this:

John wheeled in the four tires while Kasey draped the seat belts around her neck like a scarf. Following close behind was Nick, who gripped the spark plugs tightly, knowing he couldn’t lose them. Delivering her part with Olympic flair, Maggie made discuss-throwing motions with the steering wheel. Todd, he hoisted the engine with a crane, ready to lower it into the body. Heather stood nearby to cover the naked form with color as soon as every part was added. And when it was complete, everyone let out a loud “Hooray,” which was heard three or four counties away, because together they had built a van.

Which story do you want to be part of?

There is more joy building something together than building it alone.

What should we build next?

(If you like writing like this, you can subscribe to my weekly email

Lorraine with her new van!

2008-07-22T12:00:00.001-07:00

Can We Do This? Yes We Can...And We Did!

van campaign receives great response; needs $810 in 7 days

2008-07-15T07:49:00.000-07:00

We issued the call for $2,000 in 14 days. The response has been great! So far 12 individuals and businesses have pledged and/or donated to the Campaign, totalling $1,190. We've passed the half-way mark! But we're not there yet.

In 7 days, the deal for the van expires. To buy the van, we need $810 more. We wouldn't want to lose this van, as it's perfect for the family.

Would you get us to our goal? All donations are tax-deductible through Current3 Ministries.

Van Campaign nears finish line, needs $2000 in 14 days

2008-07-09T05:39:00.000-07:00

Three months ago we started the Van Campaign to buy a van for a needy family. It was a way to meet a very tangible need. Lorraine, who is a single mother with three children of her own, brought two more children into her family. The family of four grew to six. And suddenly her car couldn't fit everyone. She began making two trips everywhere they went. They had a need and we reached out to fill it.

But as the Van Campaign went on, this effort became more than meeting a need (We know because we heard from you). The Campaign became about giving thanks and sharing in the burden. Lorraine's willingness to bring two more into her family inspired many of you. You rose up in thanksgiving for all the single mothers (in some cases your own) who parented alone. And you wanted to share in the burden, to come alongside and walk with her. Lorraine became a symbol of those who go beyond themselves.

We appreciate your support up to this point. We're happy to report we're near the finish line!

We've found a van that will be perfect for the family. It's got low mileage and is in almost new condition. It's a 2006 Dodge Caravan with some of the warranty left on it. The dealership is willing to hold the van for 14 days while we raise the remaining amount.

To close the deal we need to raise $2,000 in the next 14 days. The clock is ticking. Will you help us?

If you haven't given yet, would you consider a one-time gift? If you have given, would you consider an additional gift? All donations are tax-deductible through Current3 Ministries.

Give to meet a need. Give to say thanks. Give to share a burden. Get us to the finish line.

Coworkers Donate Proceeds From Indian Purses To Campaign

2008-06-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

A group of coworkers recently made a special donation to the Campaign. One woman brought in purses to sell that were made by her aunt and cousin in India. After paying her aunt and cousin for them, she decided that perhaps her coworkers would like them. So, she "set up shop" and then declared that all proceeds from the sale would go directly to the Campaign. She brought in 11 of them. In one day, she sold 9.

This is a wonderful example of one person using what she has to bless another. And so purses from India are being used to bless a needy family of six from America.

What can you do?

Church Gift Puts Campaign Over Halfway Mark

2008-06-09T09:52:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the State College Assembly Of God, the Campaign is beyond the halfway mark. Today we received a check from the church. Along with the matching gift from Good Steward Software, the Campaign is now at $7,478, which is more than 50% of the goal of $16,000. And, if you remember, Calvary Baptist Church committed to match the gift amount of SC Assembly of God, so that check is on the way! With the corporate match from Good Steward, we'll be even closer to our goal.

Word spreads and delivers fruit (and shoes and soap, too)

2008-05-21T05:26:00.000-07:00

I spoke with Lorraine last night and she updated me on some wonderful developments. Earlier this week, she was helping a local elementary school. When she arrived, the teacher said there were bags waiting for her - bags of clothes and shoes. The eight year-old boy she is taking care of is in that school, and the bags were for him. The teacher said that somehow a person came across the Van Campaign website, recognized the boy in the photos, and gathered clothes and shoes for him. He was in need of shoes and clothes and they came at the right time!

Then, one day a bag of toiletries showed up at Lorraine's house for her family. Someone had seen the Campaign website, found out where Lorraine lived, and delivered the items to her.

And on another occasion, Lorraine was at a store with all the kids (after taking two trips to get there). A young man approached her and said he recognized her from the website. He lived in a different town but had heard about her from the Facebook Group. He said he and his fiance are supporting the family. And he's right...there's a check on the way from him.

These examples are indicators that good word spreads and motivates people to action! I told Lorraine I was going to share these stories, and she asked me to thank everyone from the bottom of her heart. She hopes to thank you personally one day. So, keep spreading the good word...so it continues bearing fruit.

Fresh Ideas From Someone I Never Contacted

2008-05-13T08:47:00.001-07:00

Today I received an email from someone I never contacted, Ms. Aileen Galley, who is the Administrative Director for the Penn State Cancer Institute at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Ms. Galley said the Campaign email and webpage link were forwarded to her from a friend. Her email was both refreshing and informative, as she offered a couple fresh ideas for the Campaign:

Dear Chris - Your email and webpage was forwarded to me this morning by a friend. I think you have created something truly fantastic that I hope our whole community can get behind. I just wanted to check in to see if you had talked with any local car dealerships to get a discount/donation. I don't know that any could give a van away, but I wonder if they could give a substantial discount and generate some good press. Also, with the cost of gas these days, perhaps the gift could be raised to give this family a year's worth of free gas. Shaner Energy and Sheetz are two area businesses that come to mind - I know they have been very generous with other philanthropies. I hope this doesn't come off as unsolicited advice for a campaign you are obviously running so well. I will happily send a donation to you this week. My best to you, Aileen Galley

These are great ideas and I'll follow up on them - contact local dealerships as well as Shaner Energy, Sheetz and others that make sense.

Ms. Galley's email demonstrates the power of a viral campaign. I started with something small, someone did their part (emailed to Ms. Galley); Ms. Galley added her part (suggested fresh ideas); I'll do something that I didn't think of originally (act on her ideas); and in the end the Campaign will advance. Now this is cool!

By the way, the giving is up to $6,652. And we heard from Pastor Grabill of AoG - they will participate in the match! Can We Do This? Yes We Can!

Church offers to match other church's donation

2008-05-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

When Pastor Dan Nold of Calvary Baptist Church (CBC) heard about the Van Campaign, he decided to issue a challenge to State College Assembly of God (AoG). Pastor Nold has committed that CBC will match whatever donation AoG gives, up to $500. This was a strategic challenge considering that Good Steward Software (GSS) is also matching every gift. So, if AoG gives $500 to the Campaign, CBC will match it, bringing the gift to $1,000. Then, GSS will match that amount, doubling the gift to $2,000. What began as $500 quadruples to $2,000. Now that's a good return on investment! Of course, we're thankful for any amount. Thank you to Pastor Nold for the match! We'll see what happens.

In the last week

2008-04-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

It has been one week since the Campaign kicked off and we've raised $4,782, which includes the corporate match. Thank you to the twelve donors who have stepped forward so far to say, "We Can Do This!" We've received donations from people I don't know, which means the message has spread beyond my own personal community. That is fantastic! That's the whole idea behind this internet-driven campaign.

Ninety-four people have joined the "Yes We Can Van Campaign" Facebook Group. The support is great and I'm trying to figure out how to leverage this membership into donation dollars, since a large number of members are international. That is, it's not as simple as filling out the online donation form.

Keep spreading the good word because each day the family still cannot fit in the same car.

Day 1: Networking and Facebook

2008-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

After Day 1 of the Campaign, $3,050 has been raised. Thank you to those who got us going (you can see their names on the donor list on the right side)!

To give you an idea of the power of networking, I heard from a woman who received the Campaign Email and then forwarded it to a certain group of friends, who will send it onto their friends. Then she decided to send it to another circle of people, who will also forward it on, who will then forward it on and so forth. And along the way each person is a possibility for giving.

Here's another example: I created a Facebook Group in the name of the "Yes We Can Van Campaign." I invited my Facebook friends to join. As of date, there are 23 members of the group. Of the 23 members, 9 are people I never invited - others did. That's 40% of the group! And it's all from networking. So if you're on Facebook, thanks for joining the group. Would you consider donating at http://yeswecanvancampaign.blogspot.com/.

GBMI Makes Early Donation

2008-04-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Within 15 minutes of the Campaign email being distributed, George Bakalov Ministries International made a donation. The goal must have really resonated with that organization. Thank you GBMI for your gift!

Photographer donates time and talent

2008-04-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

When I asked In His Image Photography to donate their time and talent to take pictures for the Campaign, their response was, "Tell me where and when." It would be hard to start a campaign without good images, right, in this age of media. Well, thanks to In His Image Photography, you can see Lorraine's family. Click here to view the slideshow.

Software company pledges matching gift

2008-04-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Good Steward Software, a State College-based software publisher for making a powerful pledge to the Campaign. GSS will match every dollar that is donated, up to $7,500. And to start things off, GSS has given $2,500, which is the first financial gift. We look forward to watching this grow!

Help On Making An Online Donation

2008-04-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Thank you for getting help on making an online donation. Here are step-by-step instructions to keep your donation quick and easy:

Step 1: Click on Donate Button

Step 2: Fill in Donation Amount and click "Update Total."

Step 3: If you don't have a Paypal account, Click Continue. If you do have a Paypal account, Log in to your account.

Step 4: Fill in credit card information and click "Review Donation and Continue."

Step 5: Make Donation by clicking "Donate $ Amount Now."

Step 6: After making the donation, you'll receive a receipt in your email inbox from Paypal and a tax-exempt receipt from Current3.

Now that you understand how to donate using Paypal, why not donate now? Thank you! Can we do this? Yes We Can!