Sent 17 Jan 2023 Dear donors and friends, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” – Plato, ca. 400 BCE ‘Dialogues’ is the name given to the consolidated body of Plato’s work. It is thus called because Plato wrote almost all of his work in the form of conversations between various characters. In his mind, it…
Donor Update, Wk. 6: Plans, Projects, and Pilgrimages
Sent 10 Jan 2023 Dear donors and friends, This has been a week of much activity on the Odesa Humanitarian front. Despite Orthodox Christmas (January 7, with lovely singing in the Orthodox churches) and despite war, I have been privileged to be involved in many plans, projects, and pilgrimages. The plans are, in some ways, the most difficult part, because…
Donor Email, Wk. 5: A New Year of Hope, with Feathers
Dear donors and friends, “Hope” is the thing with feathers –That perches in the soul –And sings the tune without the words –And never stops – at all – – Emily Dickinson It has been a difficult year for Ukraine. For many of us. My greatest wish for everyone, my highest goal in this place, is to amplify the voice…
Donor Email, Wk. 4: A Merry Christmas to everybody! Hallo! Whoop!
Dear donors and friends, The subject line for this week’s email is drawn from the classic ‘A Christmas Carol’, by Charles Dickens, which I re-read this week, as I do almost every Christmas season. At the end of the story, poor Scrooge, after what must have seemed an interminable journey with ghostly spirits, finds himself waking up in his own…
Donor Email, Wk. 3: First Distributions!
Dear Donors, Thank you for your generosity. It’s been a great week with lots of action in a variety of areas, but the most important news is that we’ve started our fist distributions! Of $1,239 collected so far, we’ve spent $630, receipts of which can be found on our website at the following link: Of those, the two primary expenses…
Donor Update, Wk 2: Learning in Humility
Sent 12 December 2022 Dear Donors, Thanks again for your generosity. Hope these emails help you feel connected to the work here! This week I chose the theme “Learning in Humility” due to the great amount of listening I had to do this week. After the first week, where I had to spend some time explaining my purpose in Odesa, I’ve…
Donor Email, Wk 1: You Gotta Know the Territory
Sent 5 December 2022 Hello donors and friends, This email is going out to the few and the proud who have donated to our organization so far. Hopefully it’s just the beginning of something great—Dignity Aid International, I’m thinking of calling it. It’s a big name for a small organization, so I’d love your thoughts if you have a moment…