DONATION

said they learned — after agreeing to administer the fund for the family — that Internal Revenue Services regulations do not allow donations for the benefit of specific people to be tax-deductible. That was important to some of those who contributed, Gutterman said.

In a Feb. 16 letter to donors who earmarked donations for Mackintosh and Campbell, Jewish Family Services explained that the agency moved the money to its needs fund to ensure people “are able to claim this donation as a deduction.”

But the letter’s wording was perplexing to some. “While we cannot guarantee funds will be used for specific clients,” it said, “we can confirm the family is eligible to receive support from our Critical Needs Fund and please be assured that they are receiving the assistance they need.”

One donor who contacted The Dispatch after reading the letter said he never asked about the tax benefits of helping Mackintosh, who spends most of his spare time reading and reviewing science-fiction books at the Downtown branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

“I don’t care about the tax deduction, and I’m sure a lot of other people don’t, either,” he said. “I just want to help these folks. That kid really touched my heart.”

The donor didn’t want his name revealed because he prefers to give anonymously.

“I don’t want to create a firestorm, and I’m not mad,” he said. “But I read that letter and kind of scratched my head. I’m like, why didn’t they just send a form back and say, ‘If you want it to just go to Mackintosh, check this box. If you want it to be tax-deductible, we’ll have to put it in the critical needs fund.’”

The outpouring of support, along with social-work case management from the agency, means that Mackintosh and his mom soon will be established in their own apartment, with several months’ rent paid.

“I feel comfortable and in good hands,” Campbell said, adding that she expects to move into their new place next week. “This is all such a huge blessing.”

She and her son have been staying in the YMCA Van Buren Center, a large homeless shelter on the West Side, since December.

Campbell, 32, said she doesn’t know how much money has been donated, but if any is left after they secure housing and a used car, she wants to invest it for Mackintosh’s future.

“He wants to be an architect, and he’s really serious about that,” Campbell said. “I don’t want people to regret helping us; I want them to feel as though they made a wise choice. And I don’t want Mackintosh to be homeless ever again.”