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Every year at this time our thoughts turn to family, holidays, gift giving, and camaraderie. For many of the people we serve on the streets our program is a substitution for a family meal and get together, for companionship and simple human contact.
Although we are the largest program of our kind in this state every month it is a struggle just to keep our doors open. We have no product that has a cash value or a service that is paid for. Serving 17,000 meals each month, our commodity is compassion, and one cannot measure that by conventional methods.

One of the hardest things we have to do several times a year is appeal to the greater community to support the work we do. It is up to us to convince you that we are trustworthy, that our service is essential, and that what we do benefits the greater community. It is also up to us to demonstrate that the funds donated to us are used in the spirit for which they were given. It is a difficult task to come to you with our hat in hands as we are all affected by the uncertainty of today's economy. With that in mind, in this newsletter we are publishing our 2002 Actual Budget. It was recently reported that many non profits have up to a 98% overhead. OPERATION: Sack Lunch is thrilled to report that our overhead is a mere 15.9% which is virtually unheard of and due largely to the work of our volunteers and product donations.

Thank you for once again considering OPERATION: Sack Lunch as your Charity of Choice to donate your hard earned resources to.


                          Jan - Dec '02 Budget $ Over Budget % of Budget
 Ordinary Income/Expense
Income
DONATIONS                   97,363.29 121,000.00 -23,636.71 80.47%
 FUNDRAISING                   41,534.28 69,000.00 -27,465.72 60.2%
 GRANTS                                      68,611.00 78,000.00 -9,389.00 87.96%
 INTEREST & DIVIDENDS      128.94 500.00 -371.06 25.79%
 REFUNDS                         147.15
Total Income             207,784.66 268,500.00 -60,715.34 77.39%
 Expense
ADMINISTRATION                    34,289.50 64,800.00 -30,510.50 52.92%
 FUNDRAISING EXPENSE   2,772.27 10,600.00 -7,827.73 26.15%
 SERVICE PROGRAM                176,913.85 182,500.00 -5,586.15 96.94%
 SPECIAL EVENTS                         332.22 2,000.00 -1,667.78 16.61%
 SPECIAL PROJECTS                              0.00 6,000.00 -6,000.00 0.0%
 Staff Education                          115.00 1,000.00 -885.00 11.5%
 telephone in field                          188.70
Uncategorized Expenses            0.00
Total Expense               214,611.54 266,900.00 -52,288.46 80.41%
 Net Ordinary Income                 -6,826.88 1,600.00 -8,426.88 -426.68%
Net Income                 -6,826.88 1,600.00 -8,426.88 -426.68%

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Staff and volunteers raise 100% of operating income
  • OPERATION: Sack Lunch has a mere 19% overhead (unheard of!)
  • Each meal we serve cost approximately $2.50 and we are serving 17,000 meals a month. (much of this is through in-kind donations)
  • We receive approximately 14,000 pounds of in-kind donations (food and supplies) each month. (without these donations we would not have enough money to continue)
  • Every month we wonder if we will have enough money to stay open
  • We see more than 1500 students each year who use OSL for community service education
On this page are ways to donate, volunteer, become involved or contribute your time, talent and/or treasure. Thank you for helping us to truly make an immediate difference in the lives of so many.

If You Are Giving
            To UNITED WAY… 

Specify OPERATION: Sack Lunch. When you pledge to the United Way, please consider designating all or a portion of your donation to OPERATION: Sack Lunch.  The United Way allows for a donor to designate their pledge to be given to any non-profit organization of his or her choice.  Though Operation: Sack Lunch may not be listed on the pledge form, it can be written in at any time.  OPERATION: Sack Lunch appreciates your support.

Pedal for a Purpose

Are you a bicyclist or do you know of one?  Pedal for a Purpose exists to offer bicycle riders the opportunity to raise money for the charity of their choice while riding top-quality cycling events.  Pedal for a Purpose is a self-supporting association allowing 100% of funds raised by riders to be given to their charity.

Cyclists can, on a strictly voluntary basis, use the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic (STP), July 12th and 13th, 2003, as a way to raise money for OPERATION: Sack Lunch and support our local community.  If you raise $350 or more, OPERATION: Sack Lunch will return your entry fee and you ride for free.  For pledge sheets, information packets, or to volunteer, please contact Stacey Castleberry at (425) 814-8054

Hang A Stocking With Care

Start a new tradition with your family.  During the holiday season, hang a stocking for OPERATION: Sack Lunch.  Throughout the month, encourage family members to drop coins in the stocking, donate their allowance, or do odd jobs for the benefit of our clients.  After the holidays, make it a family activity to roll the coins, and send in a check payable to OPERATION: Sack Lunch.  Our program is the difference between starvation and adequate nutrition. No matter how small the donation, someone else will be fed.  Decorated stockings will be available for pick up at Beverly Graham's concert at Benaroya Hall the evening of December 6th.

DO YOU HAVE A FUNDRAISING IDEA?