Like any large building, MBT requires a tremendous amount of routine maintenance just to keep things in good shape. And we are lucky to have a group of dedicated volunteers who give up their free time to tend to our gardens, keep our kitchen organized, or make all manner of repairs and improvements from electrical, to plumbing, to carpentry, and even our telephones and security system. These wonderful volunteers (you know who you are!) have helped MBT keep maintenance expenses at a reasonable level and they have not taken a break even during the pandemic. Thank you to our volunteers!

Despite the efforts of volunteers, some maintenance or repair tasks require professional contractors. Of course, these major tasks are planned in advanced and are a part of our annual budget. The MBT Board prudently continues these projects as required (forgoing maintenance could lead to much larger repair costs down the road). Here is a partial list of maintenance or repair projects. Please note: these are not all immediate – some are routine annual efforts, some are planned to start soon, some are on a longer time-line but they all have one thing in common – they all cost money.

• Major landscaping & Legacy Garden maintenance
• Elevator and chair-lift maintenance
• Roof evaluation and repair
• Heating/Air Conditioner maintenance
• Sidewalk Replacement
• Window repair or replacement
• Major caulking & weatherproofing
• Post Covid-19 physical improvements (if required)

In the early days of the pandemic, when MBT had to close its doors, Rev. Ron decided that the Sangha and many others would benefit from a weekly video Dharma Message. He further decided that streaming his message “live” from the MBT Naijin would give people a sense of normalcy and comfort during chaotic times. He was right and we are grateful for his leadership. Since March of 2020 Rev. Miyamura has streamed over 75 Dharma Messages to Sangha members and friends of MBT via Facebook Live!  The technology he used has evolved over the past 20 months starting with his cell phone to a laptop with a webcam and a light ring. Rev. Ron would be the first to tell you that he had some help from a small group of volunteers to assist with organizing services, running ZOOM sessions and to chase down technical issues. Much appreciation to Rev. Ron and his volunteers!

Thanks to Rev. Ron’s pioneering efforts we realized that video broadcasting significantly expands the reach of weekly Dharma Messages and creates new possibilities for outreach. Over the year of livestreaming services we experimented with ZOOM which allowed other speakers, like Rev. Tsuchiya or our own Minister’s Assistants, to participate in services from their homes. Also, during lockdown MBT offered a few “virtual” memorial services where families were able to participate from anywhere in the country or anywhere around the world! We realized that even after the Temple reopens for in-person services, livestreaming and video conferencing systems have a permanent place in MBT’s offerings.

However, until recently our internal network at MBT was in such poor shape that Rev. Ron often had to use his personal cell phone just to get an internet connection in order to livestream Sunday Service. With the Board’s approval we recently upgraded our entire WiFi network resulting in a 5-fold increase in speed with much improved stability, security, and capacity for expansion. While the WiFi upgrade was expensive, costing several thousands of dollars, it was a necessary investment in the temple’s current and future outreach capabilities.

Your donation to Fill the Gap can help offset the cost of our WiFi upgrade. Thank you.

Why is this needed? Like many non-profit organizations MBT relies on donations and fundraising to make up our annual budget. Of course the pandemic has forced us to cancel our biggest fundraiser, Ginza Holiday, for the second year in a row. We have taken prudent steps to reduce expenses and while MBT continues to have a good financial foundation, missing Ginza over 2 years has created a gap in our budget. Donations raised by this campaign will go directly to reducing that gap.

Is this the same thing as the Annual Pledge Drive? No. We are so grateful for all the Sangha members who submit their “Pledge” each year and our annual Pledge Drive will continue. “Fill the Gap” is a direct appeal to help MBT during these extraordinary times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

How much should I give? We’ve presented some “food for thought” about donations but in the end the amount you give is up to you. Please know that all donations, large or small, will be accepted with the same level of gratitude. Thank you!

A note about PayPal:  The DONATE NOW button will take you to PayPal. While PayPal is very convenient for collecting donations by credit card it also deducts a processing fee from each donation. PayPal now offers donors the option to increase their donation by a small amount to cover the processing fee thus insuring MBT will receive the full donation amount intended. You will see this option as you complete your PayPal transaction. This is optional and is up to each donor.

Can I donate with ZELLE? Yes. If your bank supports the ZELLE payment system then you can electronically send your donation directly to MBT’s bank account. This is a secure bank-to-bank funds transfer and the best part is there are no fees involved. Check with your bank to see if it supports ZELLE (most banks do) and then all you need is our special email address: giving@mbtchicago.org. NOTE: If you use Zelle please put your email address in the memo area when you create the donation. 

Can I give by check? Of course! Make your check out to “Midwest Buddhist Temple” (on the memo line write “Fill the Gap”) and mail it to:

Midwest Buddhist Temple
435 W. Menomonee Street
Chicago, Illinois 60614

Is MBT is a Non-Profit?: Yes, the Midwest Buddhist Temple is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.