Washington City Mission - Jobs - Serving Christ and Community, Washington, Pa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the questions below to link to the answers.

Are my donations used locally?
Does the Mission use any "middlemen" organizations in the collection and distribution of donated clothing, furniture, household items, automobiles, vehicles, etc?
Does the Mission have staff or residents collecting on street corners?
How is the Washington City Mission financially accountable?
Why do you mail so frequently?
Why do you send "fancy and expensive" letters? Sometimes I feel my whole donation goes into sending me more mail.
Why do I sometimes get two of the same mailing?
Why do you spend money thanking me for my gift?
Do you ever make donor names available to other organizations?
What do I do when a homeless person approaches me asking for food or money?
Why is the Washington City Mission is the largest shelter in the tri-county region?
What makes the City Mission successful in helping the homeless and has kept it running for so long?

Are my donations used locally?

Yes, every dollar stays in our community. The Washington City Mission is independent, governed by a local board of trustees. All donations are used in the service of your needy neighbors who find their way to the Washington City Mission.

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Does the Mission use any "middlemen" organizations in the collection and distribution of donated clothing, furniture, household items, automobiles, vehicles, etc?

The Mission staff, residents and volunteers handle all of the collection of donated items. The Mission and community receive 100% benefit of all donations received.

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Does the Mission have staff or residents collecting on street corners or phone calling for donations?

Never.

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How are you financially accountable?

We submit an annual report to the United Way of Washington and the Pennsylvania Non-Profits Charities Bureau. Our annual budget is developed and approved by our Board of Directors. Our books are audited every year by an independent CPA firm.

We are committed to good stewardship of the money that is entrusted to us by our community for the care of the poor. The Mission is an accredited member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Responsibility (ECFA).

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Why do you mail so frequently?

Direct mail is the best vehicle we have for reaching most of the friends of the Mission, keeping them aware of the work that we do and communicating our financial needs.

We do not expect everyone who receives a mailing to respond to every mailing, but we also know it is our responsibility to keep the needs of the homeless, hungry and hurting people we serve in front of those concerned people who are most able to help.

We can change the frequency of your mailing. If you desire only newsletters, or to only be contacted November, December and Easter, please call us at 724-222-8530 and we will change the frequency of the mail you receive.

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Why do you send "fancy and expensive" letters? Sometimes I feel my whole donation goes into sending me more mail.

We painstakingly evaluate every mailing that leaves the Mission from the standpoint of cost and effectiveness, and to whom and when each mailing goes out.

By employing competitive bidding, and less expensive non-profit mailing rates, we have been able to maintain our expenses at a consistently low rate.

However, if you desire to help us save even this cost you can request self-addressed envelopes or join our pledge program, Circle of Bread and Hope.

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Why do I sometimes get two of the same mailing?

Name misspellings and address changes are the biggest sources of duplicates on our list. Although we try to prevent duplications, they do sometimes occur.

If you are planning a move, please contact us with your old and new addresses so that we can make the appropriate changes.

Also, if you do receive more than one mailing from us, please send duplicate-mailing labels to the Mission and it will be corrected or call us @ 724-222-8530 ext. 232 and let us know.

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Why do you spend money thanking me for my gift?

It is important to us that you know how your gift is changing lives at the Washington City Mission.

In addition, many donors appreciate knowing that their gift has been received and keep the thank you letter as a receipt for the gift. For any single gift of $250 or more, the IRS requires a donor to have a receipt from the recipient charity in order to claim a charitable deduction.

Beginning January 2006, a cumulative donation letter will no longer be sent. The thank-you letter for your donation is your receipt.

We are often able to save money by mailing thank you letters at the reduced bulk rate, but do consider money spent saying thank you to be well spent.

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Do you ever make donor names available to other organizations?

Absolutely not. The Washington City Mission has never rented, sold or loaned its mailing list to anyone. We have no intention of changing that policy.

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What do I do when a homeless person approaches me asking for food or money?

Generally speaking, that when approached by a homeless person asking for food, it is best to look them straight in the eye, to give them a very warm smile and attempt to help them. The way to help them is to refer them to the Washington City Mission where we are equipped to help the homeless and poor. Here they can always get food and counseling. Our goal should be to break the cycle of homelessness and introduce the individual to a saving knowledge of Jesus. If you give them money, they may take that and spend it on drugs and alcohol; thus you just enable them to remain in the situation they are in.

If you feel moved by the Holy Spirit to help them immediately on the spot, then walk them into a restaurant, sit down and order a meal. Thirdly, I would encourage you to instantly pray that the Holy Spirit would give you wisdom in what to say and how to say it to this hurting individual.

Below are some ways that you can help the homeless and poor people in our community:

* Remember that the homeless are all individuals with individual needs.
* Treat the homeless kindly and with respect-they may go days without any positive contact with another person.
* Instead of cash, provide a sandwich and a cup of coffee, a blanket on a cold night or a gift certificate to a nearby fast food restaurant. * Direct them to the Washington City Mission where they can get the services they need. Even a hungry person might convert cash to drugs or alcohol.
* Take precautions for your own safety-some homeless people may be fearful, angry or paranoid.
* Remember, and remind them, that God loves them.
* Keep them in your prayers.
* Educate the young people in your life about the issues of homelessness and encourage their involvement in caring for the needy.
* Volunteer your professional abilities or interests-we can use a wide range of skills!
* Provide clothing, household items and furniture that can be distributed to the needy or sold to support our various services.
* Support the City Mission's 365-day-a-year ministry to people in need with your contributions and your prayers.

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Why do you think the Washington City Mission is the largest shelter in the tri-county region?

The Washington City Mission is the oldest and largest private shelter because we have remained true to our focus and call. In 1941 it was very clear that a local pastor supported by Christian businessmen and a number of churches committed to reaching out and touching the lives of the least, the lost and the lonely of our region, formed the Washington City Mission. Over the past 65 plus years we have not diluted our message. The Washington City Mission has kept its purpose clear "by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are meeting the spiritual, social and physical needs of people."

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What makes the Washington City Mission successful in helping the homeless and has kept it running for so long?

The Washington City Mission has attempted to do all that it does with excellence. We have a staff that has been "called" to a ministry and they are willing to go the extra mile to reach those that come through our doors.

The Mission continues to be successful because we are a mission with integrity and honesty. The community is able to see the positive results of changed lives.