I remember my Uncle Richard

Richard Sale, the first client of God’s Love We Deliver

An oak forest starts as a single acorn.

If you know about God’s Love We Deliver, you might know that my uncle, Richard Sale, was the first-ever client of God’s Love. At his most difficult time, when AIDS ravaged his body, he was too weak to shop or cook, and he desperately needed help. Ganga Stone, a hospice volunteer, brought him a bag of groceries, but when she saw that he was too sick to open the packaging or cook anything, she immediately went out and brought him a prepared meal.

With that one meal, she brought love, presence, dignity, and a witness to Richard’s situation.

My Uncle Richard passed before I was born, but he left a long and lasting legacy as a member of our Sale family. He grew up in Texas, the oldest brother of three boys. He was quick-witted, and he had a passion for speech and debate. Those who knew him said he lit up a room. Richard was a star theatre student, graduating from the University of Michigan with a BFA in Theatre.

He moved to New York City right after college at the age of 22, searching for community, and a haven for gay men like himself.

When Richard was diagnosed with AIDS, our family quickly became immersed in a world that was previously unfamiliar. More than a thousand miles from Richard, my family received updates and support from friends and family in New York who were seeing firsthand the reality of his condition.

When Richard passed away, our family was filled with grief. But out of this tragedy came something good and everlasting: God’s Love We Deliver.

I heard about the meals he had received from Ganga, and how she and other volunteers delivered meals to people who were sick, alone, and scared. It touched my family so much, they started support efforts back in Texas to spread the love.

In the last forty years, my family and I have been honored to watch God’s Love grow into what it has become, and it is extraordinary. From one woman delivering one bag of groceries to my uncle Richard, God’s Love now delivers 4 million meals to 15,000 New Yorkers each year!

I had the pleasure of visiting God’s Love this fall with my wife, Stephanie. We’ve always heard about the organization and how it connects to my family, but to see this operation firsthand was something I’ll never forget. From the dozens of volunteers working across the building to the beautiful meals we saw being cooked and packed, we were deeply moved to know that our family has been a part of this life-saving work. To be honest, since my visit, I don’t think I have gone many days without thinking about what I saw, and the tapestry of lives that have been enriched over the last forty years.

So, on Giving Tuesday, I hope you’ll join me in giving to God’s Love We Deliver, in celebration of Richard’s legacy and countless lives that have been touched ever since. For all that God’s Love has done in the last forty years, and for all that they’ll do in the next forty, please give today. Your gift today will be matched and doubled. Your support will mean more to my family than you could know. Thank you.