Reader question: should we charge for Pursuit Packs?
We've already shared a couple times about the Pursuit Packs that we are fundraising to create.
Each simple kit contains resources that equip someone facing homeless with a chance to earn immediate money and start developing sustainable recurring income.
We see them being used like this:
- A non-homeless person encounters a beggar or someone facing homelessness.
- That non-homeless helper requests a Pursuit Pack.
- They then bring the pack to their needy friend to help jumpstart their journey out of poverty.
As you can see, the packs are intended to go from Speak Up to a non-homeless helper, and then on to the person in need.
Here's my question...
Should we charge money for the Pursuit Packs?
A few things to think about:
- They do cost real money to produce ($50-100 each, depending on the contents and quantity).
- Funding them by donation drives can be slow and unpredictable.
- On one hand, it makes sense to be able to create a new pack to replace each one we ship out.
- On the other hand, we want them to be distributed freely—with as little friction as possible.
There's no wrong answer here. We'd love to hear your feedback.
Speak Up
Writing groups that bring people together.
Reader, I'm sending you this email because you've followed or connected with our friend Vince at some point over the last couple years. Possibly you signed up to follow his Substack called I Am Vince. Or maybe you donated to a previous campaign we ran to help him meet emergency needs as he battled homelessness. Perhaps you tuned in a decade ago when his inspiring writings won international acclaim from the International Network of Street Papers. I know this email is coming to you out of...
Howdy! Yesterday I sent over an email asking for potential volunteers to come alongside Ruth and work with Speak Up to help her with online publishing and other creative projects. I talked with her on the phone today and she's really excited about the possible partnerships there. Please do email me if you're interested. -- Also — there is a financial need. Ruth sells Speak Up magazines and personally-designed greeting cards as her source of income. We're looking for donors who can help fund...
Hi Reader, I hope you'll join me and others tomorrow to write and share our work with one another. We'll meet at the Mercantile in Rock Hill, SC: 153 E. White St, 2nd floor 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. Prompts, notebooks and pens, coffee and donuts will all be provided. Bring a friend! Due to schedule shifts and space limitations, only the Mercantile writing group will be happening during the month of February. Happy Writing, Matt Shaw Unsubscribe · Preferences