What is new, and why it matters
MACONA has joined two national giving programs, and both come down to one simple idea. Supporting local families should be easy, and every dollar should go as far as it possibly can. The first is Walmart Spark Good, the program that connects Walmart shoppers, associates, and stores with local charities they care about. MACONA is now a verified charity inside that program. The second is PayPal Giving Fund, a giving rail that passes one hundred percent of an online gift through to the charity, with no processing fee taken out along the way.
These are not fundraising announcements. They are doors. Each one opens a new, low friction way for a neighbor to help, whether that neighbor is a Walmart shopper, an employee whose company gives through PayPal, or a friend who simply wants to know that the full value of a gift reaches the work. For a small, all volunteer charity like MACONA, being present inside programs that reach millions of everyday givers is a meaningful step.
What it means for the people we serve
Behind every giving rail is a family. When giving is easier and less expensive, more of it happens, and more of it arrives intact. That difference is not abstract. It is a food box packed and handed to a parent in Howard County. It is a set of school supplies ready for a child on the first week of class. It is a hygiene kit or a warm coat during a clothing drive, given without a family ever having to ask twice.
For a supporter who has wanted to help but found the process clumsy or costly, PayPal Giving Fund removes the friction. A gift can be made in a moment, and because the rail is fee free, the amount a giver intends is the amount that lands. For a neighbor who is already doing a normal Walmart run, Spark Good means MACONA is now a charity they can find and support without changing their routine at all. The everyday act of shopping becomes a chance to help a family a few streets over.
Steadier, easier giving also helps MACONA plan. When support arrives in a reliable way, drives can be scheduled with confidence, supplies can be sourced ahead of need, and fewer gaps open between one distribution and the next. Consistency is quiet, but for the families who count on it, consistency is everything.
How MACONA turns a gift into delivery
MACONA is an all volunteer effort, and the work runs end to end. It starts with sourcing, buying and gathering the food, supplies, and essentials that families in the community need most. Volunteers then sort and pack those items into boxes and kits, checking that each one is complete and ready to hand over.
From there the work moves to distribution, getting boxes and kits directly into the hands of the families who need them, whether at a school, a community event, or a drop off point. The last step is follow up, staying in touch so the next drive reflects what people actually needed. A gift given through Spark Good or PayPal Giving Fund enters this pipeline and comes out the other side as something a family can hold. There is no mystery in the middle. That is the point.
How you can help today
You can be part of this right now. The easiest way is to give directly at MACONA, and because of these new rails, more of your gift reaches the work than ever before.
Your Gift at Work
There are two more ways to extend your impact. First, watch for Walmart Round Up, which is coming soon. Once it is live, Walmart shoppers will be able to round their online order up to the nearest dollar and send the difference to MACONA. Second, if your employer offers matching gifts, you can double what you give.
Double Your Impact
If your employer offers matching gifts, search for MIMI AFRICAN CHARITIES (EIN 93-3813688) in Benevity. Corporate matches have funded hydration hubs, school supplies, and full distribution days.