Annual Appeal

December 21, 2005

 

Dear Friend,

 

Earlier this year, Action reached another big milestone:  We celebrated our 40th birthday! It’s been a great  time to reflect on all we have accomplished over the last four decades, and how we’ve continued to grow to meet the ever changing needs of Cape Ann and Ipswich.

 

Since 1965, many things have changed. Forty years ago, the fishing industry flourished. Now many of our clients are unemployed fishermen and their families trying to re-adjust to the industry’s decline.  Then, housing, energy and food expenses took a much smaller chunk out of our monthly income than they do today.  Financial stresses are greater these days, and more and more hard-working people come to us because they simply cannot make ends meet. And forty years ago, nobody had heard of HIV/AIDS.  Now, many folks afflicted with this condition come to Action for help. These are but a few of the newer issues we face  in 2005.

 

And though many new challenges have arisen, many other issues seem timeless. Just as we did in our earlier days, we help out the local residents from every background and strata of the local community,  from the single mom to the laid-off factory worker,  to the struggling teen and the the frail elder hoping to live at home with dignity.

 

In 1965, the small group of people who first came together to found programs like Head Start and Neighborhood Youth Corp., could scarcely have imagined the many programs we’ve developed to help local residents. We prevent mortgage foreclosures with emergency payments.  We stop evictions with rental assistance. Homeless men and women with nowhere else to go are provided a hot meal, a place to stay, and the support network to move on. Many of Gloucester’s children and their families who live at or under the poverty line are assisted in many ways and every day.

 

We help out disabled Cape Ann adults who are just barely surviving on limited income. We provide heat and electricity to those who can’t afford it.  We provide employment training to the always growing base of Cape Ann residents who need it.

 

At-risk teens who have left school are given a second shot at an education and job mentoring.  Every single day, many hundreds of  elders enjoy the comfort provided by regularly visiting homecare workers.  Thousands of households make use of the Action’s weatherization and conservation programs to reduce their energy costs in these tight times.  The list goes on and on.

 

Though the face of poverty may have changed and evolved over the last forty years, one thing has not changed at all : Action, Inc. remains Cape Ann’s one and only anti-poverty agency.  We’re still here, and we’re still coming up with creative new ways to help our neighbors.  And we’re still serving only our local community. With your help, we’ll keep finding new ways to improve our community by helping those in need.

 

Thankfully, another constant on Cape Ann over the last forty years  has been the generosity of those so willing to help out by contributing to Action. Those of you who contribute are among Cape Ann’s true stakeholder.  You invest in your community. When you step forward, you commit to creating solutions to poverty on Cape Ann.  In giving, you make the statement that that the poor right here on Cape Ann will not be ignored.  In giving, you provide more than mere charity; you provide justice.

 

I know that you have many choices when it comes to contributing to worthy causes, but as we seek your assistance one more time, I would like to offer a reminder of something we are very proud of: Action has been recognized with the very highest commendations when it comes to making efficient use of every dollar you contribute.  And please know that your gift goes entirely to helping your neighbors right here on Cape Ann.

 

As we advance through our 41st year, I ask you to join us in the mission we began in 1965, and my promise is that we’ll keep working harder than ever to be worthy of your support. Please consider a gift to Action this year for the so many families in need on Cape Ann and in Ipswich.

 

Our very best to you this holiday season and in the coming year. Thank you.