10/02/2026
Today I got called on the carpet by a generous donor. He was right, and I’m grateful he cared enough to tell me.
This is a successful businessman who gives to Homeless Heroes, Amarillo Veteran Networking, and other causes throughout our community and beyond. I probably don’t know the half of what he does for people.
When a Veteran in Childress needed a gas line replaced, the original quote was $4,400. I checked with another plumbing company, and they said that was in the ballpark for the work involved. Sending a crew from Amarillo would mean four hours of round-trip travel, technicians, equipment, materials, and considerable expense.
I looked at all that and decided I didn’t want to put this donor on the spot. So I found help closer to Childress, got a much lower quote of $1,800, and went to the community to raise the money.
What I thought was consideration turned out to be an assumption I had no business making.
He wanted the opportunity to help. His company would have covered the job. But I never asked.
I made the decision for him.
His message was clear: Ask me. Let me decide whether I can take this one on. Don’t assume.
And he was absolutely right.
I apologized, and we’ve talked it through. But an apology ought to lead to a change in how I do things.
Our conversation also reached beyond this one repair. When I invited him to become directly involved in the Astro project, I learned he had been waiting for that invitation. Someone who has shown up for us repeatedly was still waiting for me to open the door wider.
That was hard to hear. It was also something I needed to hear.
I’ll be honest: asking for money is the part of this job I dread most. I’m comfortable rolling up my sleeves, helping a Veteran, mowing the Astro grounds, or figuring out the next problem. Asking someone to give their money, time, equipment, or professional expertise is uncomfortable for me.
But that discomfort is mine to work through. It shouldn’t keep someone else from getting an opportunity to participate.
So we’re creating a first-call list.
This will be a small group of local business owners, donors, tradespeople, and community partners who want an early opportunity to hear what Homeless Heroes needs and decide whether they want to help.
The text will be straightforward:
“Here’s the need. Here’s the time frame. Can you work on this with us?”
You can say yes, offer part of the solution, or say, “I can’t take this one.” We’ll respect your answer and keep working. There are plenty of ways to get a need met—including a community coming together $20 at a time.
That community support remains essential. This gives people who want to be called first the opportunity to raise their hand.
It also gives us a better way to invite partners into the Astro redevelopment and the work ahead, while there is still time for their ideas, skills, and resources to help shape the outcome.
To the donor who gave me this lesson: thank you. You deserved the invitation, and I appreciate you telling me directly.
If you want to be on the first-call list, text Chris Israel at 806-340-3510 and say: “Put me on the first text list.”
I won’t promise to make every decision perfectly. I will listen, learn, and put that education to work.
And next time, I’ll make the ask.
