Download
Mychal's Message
Guidelines
as a PDF.
Overview
What Defines a Project
Guidelines for Using Name/Logo
Ways to Help
Support
Available
Contact Info. |
Overview
Frequently people ask Mychal’s Message a
very simple question: “How can I help?”
There are several ways you can help and some
are more involved than others. If you would like to donate goods or
financially support one of our active projects, please refer to the
project details on our website. We always
include specific instructions about what is needed, how it will be used,
and how you can get your donations to us. If you would like to do more,
we ask that you refer to the information and guidelines in this document.
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Mychal’s Message projects are defined by
three key points:
-
New
or near-new items. We collect only new or near-new items or
funds that will be used to purchase new items. Why new or near-new only?
This aspect of our ministry was inspired by two very important women:
Shannon Hickey and Father Mychal’s mother.
Shannon Hickey was the inspiration
for Mychal’s Message back in 2001. A typical pre-teen at the time (with
an anything but typical heart), Shannon felt that one of life’s simple
pleasures was slipping on a clean, crisp pair of NEW socks. She decided
that the homeless men and women on the Breadline at St. Francis Church
in New York City deserved to enjoy this feeling. Our very first project
was collecting and distributing new socks.
Father Mychal’s twin sister has
told us that their mother taught them never to give anything to the
homeless that you wouldn’t want for yourself. If you have a new coat and
an old coat in your closet, the new one belongs to the homeless.
Based on these two philosophies,
Mychal’s Message is dedicated to providing only new or near-new items to
our project recipients.
-
Benefits an organization, not an individual directly. Mychal’s
Message only supports established organizations with missions that align
closely with the Franciscan traditions of simplicity and unconditional
love.
-
Inclusion of prayer cards. All Mychal’s Message projects include our
prayer cards as part of the distribution. The card was inspired by one
Father Mychal used to carry and share with his friends. Our organization
is called Mychal’s Message, because the message is such an
important part of the ministry.
If you decide you would like to create your
own project in conjunction with Mychal’s Message, it must meet these
criteria. If it does not, we respectfully request that you not use our
organization name or images with your project.
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Guidelines for using Mychal’s message name
and logo
-
Please do not create your own
stationery, prayer cards or any other printed material bearing the
Mychal’s Message logo or name. We are happy to provide templates and
electronic files for prayer cards and flyers. We are also happy to
provide official correspondence on your behalf as needed.
-
Please do not take our logo off our
website and reproduce it in any way. If you need the logo for some
reason, please contact us with the particulars and we will provide an
appropriate digital file.
-
All checks collected must be made
payable to Mychal’s Message and sent to us within 30 days of
receipt. (Please do not collect cash donations.)
-
Please do not create or sign any
“receipts” or acknowledgements of donations. If you require these
types of documents, please contact us.
-
Please do not copy text off our website
and reproduce it or re-create it. If you need printed material,
please contact us.
-
Refer local media to our website and
media contact. Getting local publicity is a great way to promote
your effort, but please be sure to let us provide details and history
about our organization. Feel free to provide details about your
organization or group and what you are doing, but please allow us to
provide the details about Mychal’s Message.
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-
Participate in an existing Mychal’s Message project.
-
Individual Donations
If you would like to donate
goods or financially support one of our active projects, please refer
to the project details on our website. The
site includes specific instructions about what is needed, how it will
be used, and how to get your donations to us.
-
Group Donations
If your church, community, or
other group would like to make a group donation to an existing
Mychal’s Message project, please refer to the
project details on our website. In addition, please see the
“Project Support Available from Mychal’s Message” section below and
keep in mind the “Guidelines for Using Mychal’s Message Name and Logo”
section above.
As a reminder, all Mychal’s Message projects must include
prayer cards as part of the distribution. Mychal’s Message is happy to
provide prayer cards for your distribution (see “Project Support
Available from Mychal’s Message” section below).
-
Run
an existing Mychal’s Message project to benefit an organization of your
choice.
If your church, community, or other
group would like to run an existing Mychal’s Message project, but
deliver the donations to a local organization, please notify us in
advance, providing your contact information and the following details
about the project:
-
Which
project are you running?
-
When
are you running the project?
-
What
organization will the project benefit?
Also, please refer to the “Project Support
Available from Mychal’s Message” section below and keep in mind the
“Guidelines for Using Mychal’s Message Name and Logo” section above.
As a reminder, all Mychal’s Message projects must include prayer
cards as part of the distribution. Mychal’s Message is happy to provide
prayer cards for your distribution (see “Project Support Available from
Mychal’s Message” section below).
-
Create a project of your own to benefit an organization of your choice
using the Mychal’s Message name and philosophy.
If you or your group would like to create your own project using the
Mychal’s Message name and philosophy, the project must meet certain
criteria. Please refer to the “What Defines a Mychal’s Message Project”
section above. If your project does not meet these criteria, we
respectfully request that you not use our organization name or images
with your project.
If you believe your project does meet our criteria, please notify us in
advance, providing your contact information and the following details
about the project:
-
What is to be collected?
-
How and where will it be collected?
-
When will it be collected?
-
What organization will the project
benefit?
If your project is approved, please see the
“Project Support Available from Mychal’s Message” section below and keep
in mind the “Guidelines for Using Mychal’s Message Name and Logo” section
above.
As a reminder, all Mychal’s Message projects
must include our prayer cards as part of the distribution. Mychal’s
Message is happy to provide prayer cards for your distribution (see
“Project Support Available from Mychal’s Message” section below).
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If you are running an existing Mychal’s
Message project or have created one of your own, Mychal’s Message can help
in a few ways.
-
Program flyers and promotional
templates (electronic)
Mychal’s Message will provide you with electronic versions of flyers
that can be used as-is or as templates to help you promote your
collection or fund-raising.
-
Prayer cards (either electronic or
hard copy)
Mychal’s Message will provide you with electronic or hard-copy versions
of our prayer cards. Prayer cards must be included with all items
distributed.
-
Correspondence and background
information
If you require proof that our organization is a legitimate non-profit
entity or any background information to help your effort, please contact
us. We are happy to provide correspondence on your behalf.
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Email:
info@mychalsmessage.org
Mail: Mychal’s Message
PO Box 6404
Lancaster, PA
17607
USA
Media Contact: Carole Dicton
+1 908 689 6797
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