In praise of small potatoes

Financial difficulties are nothing new to community organizations. In addition to accomplishing their group's mission, members have always been faced with the challenge of financing that mission.

Up until a few years ago, local government, recognizing the value that these organizations' projects brought to the community, invested in them through either direct financing or contribution of services.

They're not handouts, they're investments.

Many of these programs not only raised the quality of life for area residents, but also helped make the city more attractive in terms of economic development. And they work. Downtown Muncie has seen a vibrant revival over the past ten years, despite a struggling economy, and much of it has come with City Hall's help.

Things have changed.

The past decade has brought many changes to the City's ability to contribute to these programs, and even to the level of government services the City can provide. When you look at the cumulative impact of those shortfalls, you find that they span dozens of programs, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It can be overwhelming.

So much so that many people, paralyzed by the scale, come to believe that we must accept that things like fireworks, festivals, city streets decorated for the holidays, and other beautification efforts as relics of the past.

Not everyone belives that. We don't.

Every problem has a solution, and it often turns out to be something either overlooked or disregarded, like a small potato.
The City isn't alone in its financial difficulties. People and businesses everywhere are shouldering similar burdens, and now is not the time to ask for large contributions. Small contributions are much more manageable, but donors often tend to underestimate their impact or consider them not worth the effort.

That's where Light Up Muncie comes in.

By tackling programs individually, they become more manageable. In fact, many can be funded for just a few hundred dollars. At the same time, by soliciting many smaller contributions, and making donation process quick and easy, there is a lower impact on donors. A five or ten dollar contribution becomes significant when multiplied by a thousand people.

Moreover, in addition to raising the quality of life for ourselves, we foster a healthy atmosphere of community cooperation and make the city more attractive in terms of business development.

The best part comes, though, when we look to the sky and see fireworks, and know that we are the ones that put them there.

Come on, folks, let's put some small potatoes together and Light Up Muncie!