A peek into 'boundless' generosity

One measure of a person's generosity is in everyday donations of time or treasure to others.  Helping a neighbor.  Rescuing a distant relative from ruin.  Sending money to strangers in need.  Or, after Hurricane Helene flooded western North Carolina, volunteering from across the United States fixing up entire communities for weeks.

Perhaps the best metric of these "bonds of affection," to use Abraham Lincoln's term, is the results tallied up after each Giving/Tuesday.  This year's day of generosity in the U.S. -- now in its 13th year -- provides a broad snapshot of American selflessness.

The event Dec. 3 saw an increase percentage in donations from last year that was higher than the increase in consumer spending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.  Goodwill beat out goodies, an outcome that befits the spiritual meaning of the Christmas season.

Yet hidden in the data was a 4% increase in volunteering.  This was a hopeful sign after years of hand-wringing by nonprofits that Americans, in an age social isolation and declining trust in institutions, are increasingly avoiding unpaid activities in service to others.  "In a world that can feel increasingly divided, we're seeing people unite through simple acts of kindness that have profound ripple effects" said Asha Curran, Giving Tuesday's chief executive officer.

A report released in September by The Generosity Commission acknowledges that Americans "are reimagining giving, volunteering, and community before our eyes."  The pandemic lockdown, for example, "gave rise to spontaneously formed neighbors and strangers."  While givers say their resources of time and money may be limited, they "describe generosity as boundless."

-- The Christian Science Monitor Weekly / week of December 23, 2024