Hand of Hope Outreach

In my experience, as I have sought donations from people of physical items I have found that most people have a lot of things in their possession that could help the poor, but they just do not think about it, are busy, or do not recognize how valuable what they take for granted could be to someone else. However, most are willing to donate what they have when asked. 

My goal is to encourage people to declutter more and give more as a result! 

Unfortunately, we are living in a very fast-paced and materialistic society where very few people including Christians consciously consider the needs of the poor as their responsibility anymore which is sad. Meeting the tangible needs of the less fortunate is one of the key responsibilities of the disciples of Jesus. Jesus showed us by his example that we must serve each other and wash one another's feet.

"if your Lord and teacher has washed your feet, you should do the same for each other." John 13:14

As a Christian, I am concerned about the extent to which materialism has so consumed the church that Christians have adopted an attitude of covetousness, individuality, and worldliness that was not known in the early church. The book of Acts in the Bible tells us this of the early Christians, "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need." Acts 2:45, and, "Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common." Acts 4:32

Apostle Paul also set an example with his life saying, "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35

In one of the longest parables in Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus revealed his displeasure with Christians who do not help others, and identified himself with the forgotten and forsaken sick, poor, needy, and naked:

"Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me." Matthew 25:44-46

When we see how much the little we give, even a cup of cold water, could mean the world to a poor person, we would go out of our way to give. I have seen what the littlest gesture which for the normal person means nothing, like 17 dollars, could mean the world to the poor slum woman because it could be the rent she needs not to sleep out in the cold that night with her 6 children (true story). 

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27

All this is not meant to condemn you or make you feel bad, but to show you that you too, with your seeming little, can make a difference!

There are many opportunities to give, even when we do not have money. We can share a coat with someone where we have two (Luke 3:11).

Below are ways you can partner with us and be a hand of hope to your brother and sister, God's child.

 

1. Donations- Clothes, shoes, blankets, utensils, and any household items

Most families have a lot of clothes, shoes, books, and other household items they do not use. Some have even kept these things for decades. One of the best ways to train oneself to give is by making a regular habit of giving out the things you do not need. If you have anything you have not used in more than a month then it is not useful to you. To break free of materialism and the habit of hoarding, it is good to train ourselves to buy less and also give out what is in excess. 

Some of the clothes I have gotten from donations have been sold by the very poor to make some extra income to feed their families. 

Imagine what would happen if everyone decluttered their homes and gave out everything they sincerely know they do not need including utensils, blankets, electronics, and so forth. Not only would these things help someone who cannot afford them, but they can also be sold by the poor cheaply to make some money to meet their basic needs.

Selling used clothes is one way the poor can support themselves with a little help from our closets. Others can then thrift by buying cheap clothes from them.

Such seemingly small gestures can change a poor person's tomorrow. I interact with people who cannot even afford the next meal or rent worth only 17 dollars (2,500 Kenyan shillings) or so, which is what most people spend on coffee or pizza on a weekend. 

Let us be our brothers' keepers, and ask the Lord to open our eyes to the needs around us. 

Consider donating what you do not need. I am available to arrange pick up if within Nairobi and all you have to do is get the things together ready for pick up. Contact me here

 

2. Donate Bibles

Unfortunately, bibles have become very expensive which is unfortunate. In my search for cheap Bibles, I have found that the cheapest bible I could find in Nairobi goes for between 800-1000 Kenya shillings which is about $7.

Sadly the common person cannot easily afford this, especially with the high poverty and unemployment rates in Kenya. Bibles have become a luxury. It is also next to impossible to find any church or organization giving out free bibles these days. But I know that many homes and individuals have spare bibles lying around.

Please consider donating used Bibles to this ministry and we can use them to help new converts grow in their faith. Every Christian needs to have a bible. Without the word of God, we cannot properly grow in our faith. Most poor people cannot afford mobile phones that have app stores to download Bibles as these phones are expensive.

If you have bibles you can donate, please contact me for pick up.

 

3. Support a needy child with school fees

If God has blessed you in a way that you can afford or commit yourself to pay the school fees for one needy child, this would be amazing. Most poor children do not finish their education because they cannot raise the school fees. 

School fees in the government primary and secondary schools in Kenya are not expensive to the average man but are quite expensive to a poor person who is struggling to even put food on the table. 

The annual school fees for one child in primary or high school in Kenya is approximately 600 USD 

Education is the way out for many of these poor kids who end up getting into drugs, and crime, and even become street children because they are not able to get a stable education. 

Contact me if you can assist with this.

 

4. Donate Money

You can also donate cash which will be used for the above purposes of supporting the weak and needy, helping the orphans, and widows, feeding the poor, and clothing the naked.

You can use the secure PayPal donate button below! It allows you to give a one-time donation or a monthly donation.

Click the PayPal button below and select 'Hand of Hope Outreach' to show that your donation is for the outreach ministry. 

You do not need a PayPal account to donate. The link allows you to donate using a debit or credit card too.

If you're a Kenyan or East African and would like to donate via MPESA, you can send your donation to +254720543384 and mention the purpose of the donation.

 

May God bless you for your generosity! 

"...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” Acts 20:35