Heather Kaufman
is director of development for the Comboni Missionaries, North American Province.
Summer is here and in the Comboni Missionaries fundraising world that means we are on the cusp of event season. It seems fitting that our first in-person program in 2022 for the Cincinnati community was a Mass and luncheon celebrating our volunteers. This is always a favorite of mine because it reminds me how lucky we are to have the volunteers we do — our volunteers make our events happen. Without them we could not have a Taste of Mission, book clubs, youth groups, the Nativity Experience, dinner dances, and so much more!
Last fall the Cincinnati community held its annual Taste of Mission. We had entertainment from Tinikling dances to music from the Hills of Kentucky Dulcimers. Beer and wine from around the world, food trucks to feed our bellies, a mission market, raffle baskets, and a children’s area. Over $25,000 was raised to help the missions. All of this happened because of the approximate thirty volunteers who showed up and did the work.
A sum like $25,000 can go quite far in the missions. It can purchase 333 water filters which can produce more than 333 million gallons of clean water for families in Uganda. This money can outfit seventy-eight classrooms with the books and supplies needed for the school year. It can purchase one hundred new hospital beds so women are no longer giving birth and recovering on mats on the floor.
And $25,000 can provide twenty-five one-year nursing scholarships to students in the West Nile region — a place where medical professionals are so desperately needed. This all happens because thirty friends said, “Yes, I can spend the day helping out.” That small sacrifice has life-changing implications for many around the world.
I encourage you — if you are called, to contact your local mission center and see if there is a way to help out. The contact information for our communities can be found here. If the timing is not good for you, please consider supporting our events and our missions in any way you deem appropriate. Prayers are always welcome and please know you are always in ours.
