Law of Motion: a Non-Profit's Perspective

Newton's First Law of Motion: An object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/newtlaws/Lesson-1/Newton-s-First-Law

Running a non-profit isn't easy. There's quite a bit of work that goes in to maintaining forward progress. From marketing for new donors, to networking with other non-profits, businesses, and individuals that might be able to help, to running the back office, to actually executing on our mission and seeking out those we can help.

None of this is news to you and you might also be thinking, "that's it?" No, it's not it. This isn't an exhaustive list and none of these are simple by themselves; especially the last one: "seeking out those we can help."

We must ensure your donations are going to be used effectively, and we are a small "start-up" Non-Profit so funds are limited. As a result, effective use is critical! We hear a lot of stories and it can be difficult to discern fact from fiction, but that's why you have entrusted us with your donations.

Then, we hear stories like one Veteran here recently. He's a Marine who served in the early 80's as a 'grunt', as he put it. While listening to his story you could hear he doesn't need much. As he was describing where he is currently living he opened up with "the beautiful view" he had. He went on to describe the view was from his sleeping bag that sat on top of a mattress that was protected by a tent. You see, he was grateful for what he did have and acknowledged the mistakes that led him there, even the most recent one that put him into some trouble.

Our Marine has been working hard over the years to keep himself free of alcohol and 'fell off the wagon' as he described it, in mid-December. As a result, he made decisions that will likely impact the rest of his life. It breaks my heart... It hurts to hear how grateful and how disappointed someone can be in the same conversation.

I'm writing this because even the smallest amount of support you enabled as a donor should be celebrated. We are not going to be able to help this Veteran as much as we would like. He has taken actions that have set in motion things we just simply can't help with, and he knows it as well. Our Marine has a court date in two weeks. He has saved what he could between lawyer fee's, food, and living arrangements, but he's going to have to walk to the town his hearing is in. His quote, "I have my backpack, a sleeping bag, and my legs still work. It'll be a three day walk but I'll get there."

I acknowledge helping someone to their court date may not sound like the most noble use of funds, but we must instill hope in those that feel helpless. We must love deeply those that have made some of the biggest mistakes. And above all else, we must not forget he served us first and asked nothing in return. This post opens up with the definition for Newton's First Law of Motion for a reason. The law says that once something is set in motion it would continue on forever UNLESS 'acted upon by an unbalanced force.' We will be that unbalanced force!

We will shine a light in darkness. We will not let our Veterans fall. We will provide hope where hope might be lost and be the force that disrupts the trajectory our brothers and sister may have found themselves on.

I will leave you with the a snippet of the poem on the back of our Statue of Liberty.

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"