Janis Clark didn’t expect to become the face of a fundraising video — she just wanted to explain why she gives every month.
Clark, a longtime monthly donor to Community Homeworks, said she looks for organizations that are fiscally well-managed and make a lasting difference in the community. “Community Homeworks fills that need,” she said.
The Kalamazoo-based nonprofit provides home repairs — from wheelchair ramps to water heater flushes — for residents who might otherwise struggle to stay safely in their homes. Leslie Barajas, Community Homeworks’ Mission Advancement Manager, said recurring donors, whether giving monthly or annually, allow the organization to plan ahead and respond to whatever a household needs, without limitations tied to one-time gifts.
That reliability matters at the smallest scale, too. Barajas noted that even $5 a month helps fund accessibility projects like ramps and repairs. For Clark, spreading her giving across the year — rather than concentrating it in December — means she can see the impact of her support every month rather than just once.
Talia Coleman, a recurring giver, said her support is about keeping families in their homes safely: when a broken stair, window, or furnace could otherwise force someone out, her contribution helps make sure “they have a community organization that has their back.”
Clark closed her appeal simply: she hopes others will find it in their hearts to support an organization that “does so much for so many.”
Learn more or become a recurring donor at communityhomeworks.org.
