Dear Colleague

I am writing to launch the next dimension for the United States Emergency Chaplains Corps (USECC).  In light of so many more requests for assistance and opportunities within both the faith based and business communities we simply need to step into a new realm. 

Our two primary roles have been to respond and assist our First Responders (Police, Fire & EMS) and then community clergy and officials in time of disaster and emergency.  In doing so our network is growing rapidly and so is the request for our presence.  To have the opportunity to affect entire communities is truly a humbling experience, yet one we are eager to be a part of. 

It is at this time I am asking you to be a part of our 200/1000 Effort.  Affectionately called the “Two hundred thousand effort”.  We are looking for 200 businesses, churches, individuals, service clubs, youth groups etc. who will donate $1,000 in a lump sum or pledge $1000 in monthly installments during the next 12 months. 

This will enable us to actually do more work in the response areas and cause less time to be spent on fundraising, which is very time consuming.  Our ministry is unique and I can assure you it is not a duplication of services.  In fact we are hoping to take an additional step and begin a more in depth training for clergy not familiar with emergency response. 

I do not believe people appreciate being inundated with request for donations.  We have been very low key over the years.  Though we work with government agencies on a regular basis we receive no government funding.  We are a non-profit funded entirely on private donations. 

We will have two major fund drives this year, the 200/1000 Effort, and the request at September 11^th which commemorates our First Responders.  It goes without saying that we appreciate any gift at any time, whether it is a congregational offering or one time donation, nothing is insignificant. 

I do not have to remind anyone of the cost of gasoline, supplies, vehicles and operating cost these days.  We have been very fortunate to have people with a professional mindset and attitudes involved in the past.  I would like to invite you to be a part of this outreach at this time and ask you share our request with those of similar interest and belief.

In closing, my mind goes to a conversation I had with a Battalion Chief in New Orleans.  With very sincere and grateful eyes he thanked me for everything we did.  I locked eyes with him and simply said, “My pleasure, you’re worth it”.  I believe God thinks we are all “worth it”.  It is my hope you feel that USECC is worth it as well.  I hope to hear from you soon,  until then I’ll be………………