Unexpected generosity

A few holiday decorations in downtown Woodstock, Vermont. (Gareth Henderson Photo)

Many times, it's tough to find the good amid all the challenges happening in the world today. That's why it's a joy to point out a bright spot when one comes across the radar.

A story in The Washington Post recently was a reminder of how a situation can turn into a blessing unexpectedly. It was about a couple who had to cancel some big wedding plans due to COVID-19, got married at Chicago’s city hall, and ended up with a non-refundable catering deposit. They decided to donate the $5,000 to provide 200 Thanksgiving meals for people with severe mental illness. A spokesperson for the nonprofit that received the dinners said the meals helped fill a void at a time when the group's regular communal dinners were canceled because of the pandemic. This gift provided a bright light in a dark time when hopes seems scarce. Because of this generosity, people were able to hope a little more this Thanksgiving.

This was another shining example of how the unexpected isn't always a bad thing, especially this year. Many times, nonprofits have seen support come in from sources you couldn’t have predicted. This is another one to add to that list. Such examples of generosity, kindness and provision have kept us inspired in 2020, and that pattern is likely to keep on going in 2021. It's a safe bet we'll see many more examples of people spreading good in our communities when it's needed most.

— Gareth Henderson