Chances are you are familiar with the aphorism, “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.

You might recognize these as words attributed to Jesus, according to the apostle Paul (Acts 20:35). Or you may hear in this phrase an echo from the well-known “peace prayer” of St. Francis of Assisi (“For it is in giving that we receive…”). For others of you, these words ring true from your own experience, because you have served your community as a volunteer or happily contributed financially to support the work of charitable organizations—maybe you’ve been a LINK donor or volunteer.

An Opportunity for Giving

Giving is truly a gift, and there is a great opportunity for you, from now through December 31, to make a gift that will be amplified through a matching grant to help offset the increased cost of providing meals for hungry people in Lawrence. The Giving4Good campaign of the Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF) is helping LINK raise these much-needed funds. If you are considering end of the year donations, please consider donating to LINK.

An Opportunity to Volunteer

Of course you can always volunteer with LINK. To all of our donors and volunteers—all who have given financial gifts and all who have made food and helped serve it—we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Rev. Doug Heacock, member of the LINK Board of Directors

*https://health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health/

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10902-020-00242-8

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/887795

There is empirical evidence that giving is measurably good for the giver, as well. Studies* done as recently as 2020 have shown numerous positive effects associated with the acts of volunteering and/or giving gifts, including

• lower blood pressure

• improved self-esteem

• reduced depression

• reduced stress

• increased happiness and satisfaction

• longer life