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It was a simple note scribbled in ink on the outside of a small envelope meant for church offerings.
"Please don't be mad. I don't have much. I'm homeless. God Bless," it read.
Inside the envelope? A mere eighteen cents.
The First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, received the anonymous donation. Reverend Patrick Hamrick, the church's pastor of finance, says he was equally stunned by the words and the contribution.
"We read it and it touched us," he said. "The message implies the giver thought we might be mad. We didn't feel mad at all. It took some bravery to write that down and say 'I'm homeless, but I still want to give.' "
Hamrick says the church, founded in 1927, has a diverse membership that welcomes 150 homeless people every Sunday morning for breakfast. Many of the guests often stay for the services that follow.
"I picture that individual reaching into his or her pocket and pulling out that dime, nickel and three cents and dropping it in the envelope, writing that note and sticking it in the offering plate," he says. "That could really have been a sacrificial gift. That could have been all that person had in his or her pocket that day."
Hamrick posted a picture of the scrawled message on the church's Facebook page – and now many in the community want to help this individual. Hamrick says he is torn because he wants to respect the donor's privacy but would also love to get him or her help.
"I think there could be a happy ending here," he says. "I have a feeling there's been enough support that this person could get some assistance. But we don't know who this individual is."
"Please don't be mad. I don't have much. I'm homeless. God Bless," it read.
Inside the envelope? A mere eighteen cents.
The First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, received the anonymous donation. Reverend Patrick Hamrick, the church's pastor of finance, says he was equally stunned by the words and the contribution.
"We read it and it touched us," he said. "The message implies the giver thought we might be mad. We didn't feel mad at all. It took some bravery to write that down and say 'I'm homeless, but I still want to give.' "
Hamrick says the church, founded in 1927, has a diverse membership that welcomes 150 homeless people every Sunday morning for breakfast. Many of the guests often stay for the services that follow.
"I picture that individual reaching into his or her pocket and pulling out that dime, nickel and three cents and dropping it in the envelope, writing that note and sticking it in the offering plate," he says. "That could really have been a sacrificial gift. That could have been all that person had in his or her pocket that day."
Hamrick posted a picture of the scrawled message on the church's Facebook page – and now many in the community want to help this individual. Hamrick says he is torn because he wants to respect the donor's privacy but would also love to get him or her help.
"I think there could be a happy ending here," he says. "I have a feeling there's been enough support that this person could get some assistance. But we don't know who this individual is."
Maybe it's just Jesus passing by.
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