EDITORIAL: Uptick in donations to help Waco's poor is praiseworthy
Perhaps David DeLoach (in today’s letters) has figured out how best to balance enjoyment with civic duty. For every dollar his family members spend on tickets to Baylor University sports, he writes, they give a dollar to Caritas of Waco to help the poor.
That’s such a refreshing rule to follow. And it appears the DeLoaches aren’t the only ones invoking this spirit. Caritas executive director Buddy Edwards told us this week the nonprofit group has surpassed the $1 million mark in fundraising for its capital campaign. Caritas actually has raised $1,024,000 to renovate its cramped and aging facilities.
The goal is $1.75 million, as we wrote in an July 1 editorial. And we are proud to follow up so quickly with news that Central Texans are heeding that call and giving.
Nationwide, philanthropic giving also is up, we thankfully note. In fact, overall giving in the U.S. rose 3.8 percent in 2010 — the first increase since 2007, according to a recent report by Giving USA.
Please continue this generous trend, especially in our community. So many among us are struggling in these unsettling economic times. They need food, clothing, help paying electric bills or just to know that someone out there cares about their plight.
As many as 2,200 families per month seek help from Caritas, Edwards told us. Every penny taken in is used wisely and every volunteer greatly appreciated.
“We are very excited about the donations. We feel this is one of those big milestones for this campaign and hopefully continues to energize us and to propel us for our work,” Edwards said.
We hope so, but we must point out that even with the money Caritas raised so far (plus $400,000 from expected grants,) Caritas still needs to raise $600,000.
Retiree DeLoach — who is 68 and volunteers daily by reading and tutoring to children at inner-city Waco elementary schools — modestly requested that he not be made to look exemplary. He said there are so many others in our community who give far more.
Point noted.
But we still think what his family is doing is an example that we could all follow.
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