An Associated Press item entitled “Americans Still Giving, Despite Economic Meltdown,” reports that, widespread economic woes notwithstanding, charitable contributions in the U.S. this year may prove even stronger than usual.
This should come as no surprise, says AP writer Donna Gordon Blankenship. According to Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy, “historically, charitable giving has been recession-proof.” A Harris Interactive telephone survey conducted a few weeks ago found that while seven in ten adults expect to spend less on presents this holiday season, “about half say they are more likely to give a charitable gift.”
Turns out, even when people are hurting, they keep giving — and often give more, not less.
As more Americans turn to charity amid worsening economic gloom, operators of food banks and other aid groups are relying on the surprisingly resilient generosity of their neighbors and finding that even when times are tough, people still give.
In Seattle, Boeing Co. employees tripled their cash donations this year to Northwest Harvest, operator of Washington’s largest food bank. And every week, Northwest Harvest spokeswoman Claire Acey says, companies call to say their employees have decided to skip their holiday party and buy food for the hungry instead.
“We see things like that and they are little beacons of hope,” Acey said.
Hope beacons, indeed—and maybe not so little.
(You can read the whole article “here.)