Help A Neighbor Annual Report Nov. 1, 2020 – Nov. 1, 2021
Help A Neighbor, Inc.
3505 Horse Run Ct.
Shepherdsville, KY 40165
(halbrook@twc.com / 502-955-1748)
November 3, 2021st Year of Our Lord
Dear brethren and friends,
Help A Neighbor began in July of 2007 to provide for others what they cannot provide for themselves in the spirit of Matthew 22:39: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Help A Neighbor (H.A.N.) exists for humanitarian and charitable purposes as defined by section 501(C)3 of the IRS Code. All donations are legally tax deductible. This is simply a legal means for individuals to extend aid to individuals. No church donations are accepted – H.A.N. is not an ecclesiastical organization.
This annual report covering November 1, 2020-November 1, 2021 is made in the interest of integrity and transparency. Our main focus is helping Christians in the Philippine Islands, but occasional help is extended to Christians in other parts of the world including the U.S. Our aim is to help people who demonstrate their willingness to help themselves. During this time period donations amounted to $876,575.00. Most donations are modest amounts with occasional larger gifts. Including funds from other accounts used for the Philippine work, a total of $1,017,973.00 passed through the H.A.N. account.
Bibles and Bible study literature distributed on my trips or shipped to various places amounted to $35,247.00. In addition to English Bibles obtained here in the U.S., hundreds of Bibles in local dialects are purchased at a discount in Manila and shipped throughout the Philippines. As the gospel spreads, pleas for songbooks grow. Since Filipinos commonly speak English as a second language, they can sing with our books. Used and new English songbooks are constantly being donated and shipped to the Philippines with H.A.N. funds. Money is also given to help them print songbooks in their dialects.
The generous gifts of brethren made it possible to repair or construct many church buildings and make a few payments for lots. It is very hard to find funds for church buildings, but as the churches continue to grow meeting places are very vital. A brother who donated monthly for this need passed away – a great loss. A total of $17,100.00 was used for church buildings.
Appeals for benevolence arise because of all sorts of injuries, health issues, and medical problems. Some were given as little as $50 or $100. Brethren need simple over-the-counter medicines and at times emergency surgeries. Dr. Teresa Toreja has a small clinic in Navotas, Metro Manila serving the needs of very poor saints and other citizens. Funds given to her help serious cases of our brethren. Dr. Cathy Forelo who lives in Tuguegarao, Cagayan Province on Luzon likewise often serves the needs of saints.
In numerous cases brethren struggling with all sorts of personal and family problems were given aid. Damaged and destroyed homes were repaired or rebuilt. Motorcycles and other vehicles desperately needed repairs or registration renewal. There are times Filipino brethren can eat only twice a day and children are crying from hunger. Preachers often need fares to reach their appointments and lack money to buy food for their families while they are out preaching. The needs are so vast and so varied it is mind-numbing. Filipino saints often lack the most basic things we take for granted.
In several cases limited help was extended to aid brethren serving the needs of saints in Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, India, Nepal, and even in the U.S. a few times.
The amount used for all these various needs is $712,879.00.
Special emergencies are addressed when possible. This year brought untold devastation with a series of 13 severe earthquakes October 2019-May 2020, the coronavirus pandemic with lockdowns preventing brethren working to feed their families, and several severe typhoons. Funds are still needed to build small houses for earthquake victims living in tents, and to address hunger caused by lockdowns and floods. The total funds sent for emergencies amounted to $148,744.00 during the past year.
Various special requests and needs are addressed at times involving funeral expenses, a few laptops and projectors when possible, vehicle expenses (an occasional donor helps a preacher purchase a vehicle), and the like. The total expenses for special requests were $28,677.00.
Because of the pandemic, my last Philippine trips was in February 2020. Since then I have scheduled and rescheduled six times, and am now scheduled for December, assuming travel restrictions are lifted. Funds used in preparation for upcoming travel added up to $796.00.
Miscellaneous expenses for the year were $24,593.00. Most of this is the cost of wire fees and of shipping huge boxes filled with songbooks, Bibles, study materials, food, clothing, and personal items. As brethren have learned I can ship boxes for about $135, they have sent me hundreds of used songbooks, Bibles, and study materials which I continue to ship to the Philippines. I ship 25 of these large boxes each time for $3,000-$4,000 including supplies – more could be shipped anytime if funds were available!
As of November 1, there is a balance of about $50,000.00 due to a last minute donation committed to some pressing needs, to be reflected in next year’s report, leaving a balance of 0. Overhead costs are nil; I work out of my office at home without compensation. A CPA firm files the necessary forms with the I.R.S. to verify our non-profit charitable status, allowing donors to take a tax deduction.
God willing, I hope to make my 78th trip to the Philippines November 30-December 21 if travel restrictions are lifted. I will keep rescheduling until it is possible to go.
In addition to financial needs for my projected trip, additional donations can be applied to many other needs such as the following:
(1) FILIPINO BIBLES. I will continue to visit the Philippine Bible Society in Manila to purchase Bibles in Filipino dialects at a discount which will be shipped directly to the brethren.
(2) SHIP SUPPLIES. Shipping companies load cargo ships with truck-size containers, including door-to-door deliveries of special boxes which ship for about $135 regardless of weight. Over the years I have shipped about 700 large boxes filled with Bibles, songbooks, study materials, clothes, food, and other items. I have a golden opportunity to send study materials because Truth Publications has donated outdated and damaged materials including perfectly good books which simply did not sell, as did Religious Supply Center when it closed. These materials include everything from topical books to commentaries to class materials. As funds permit, I will continue to ship them all over the Philippines!
(3) SONGBOOKS IN FILIPINO DIALECTS. Filipinos love to sing the praises of God using English songbooks, but English is their second language and they also want to sing in their own dialects. The cost is $2.00-$4.00 per small paperback book if printed in quantities. Pleas for these books come to me repeatedly. A few donors provided the recent songbook entitled Psalms, Hymns, & Spiritual Songs produced by Sumphonia Productions. Filipino saints are thrilled to get new songbooks!
Many other needs such as church buildings, medical treatments, and vehicle repairs continue. Hundreds of saints on Mindanao lack food, clothing, and shelter after the 13 successive earthquakes.
H.A.N. is a labor of love. No one takes compensation for this service. Every penny donated goes to needs we have identified as reflected in this report. Thank you for making it possible by your donations. Individuals needing a tax deduction may write checks to Help A Neighbor. Write all other checks to Ron Halbrook. Mail all checks to 3505 Horse Run Ct., Shepherdsville, KY 40165-6954. For PayPal, the account is Richard Halbrook or halbrook@twc.com – indicate “send to a friend” not “pay for item or service” (PayPal deducts a charge if your money is drawn from a credit card but not if from a bank account). Donations made before January 1 can be deducted on 2020 taxes even if mailed after that date. At the year’s end we provide receipts which can be filed with tax forms.
Visit www.HelpANeighbor.net to read reports and learn more (thanks to Jacob Keese). Truly, as Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35)!
In Christian love,
Ron Halbrook
(halbrook@twc.com)
To see good Bible study material, go to:
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https://www.truthmagazine.com