“Conquer the angry one by not getting angry; conquer the wicked by goodness; conquer the stingy by generosity, and the liar by speaking the truth.” — Siddhartha Gautama, “The Dhammapada”

“Every sunrise is an invitation for us to arise and brighten someone’s day.” — Richelle E. Goodrich, “Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, and Grumblings for Every Day of the Year”

This being my last column of 2024, I planned to use this space to discuss my abject failure on every one of my 2024 New Year’s resolutions.

But we’ll have to deal with that ugly business some other time.

Because I want to talk about you, dear Northeast Michigan.

Specifically, I want to talk about your generosity.

For the past three Christmases, I’ve had the honor and privilege of serving on the advisory board for the Salvation Army of Alpena.

In that role, I’ve had a front-row seat to how much this community cares, and it has warmed my heart.

I’ve volunteered ringing bells and watched shopper after shopper dig into their pockets as they hurried inside a local store for Christmas shopping, pulling out what they could and dropping it in the red kettle. I’d say most people give on their way in or out, and most people returned my “merry Christmas” or “happy holidays” with good tidings of their own.

The past two Christmases, I’ve volunteered helping the Salvation Army count the giving in those red kettles at the end of the night.

Every time I open one of those kettles, it amazes me.

The $20 bills, the occasional $50 bill, even the occasional Benjamin Franklin, show me people believe in the Salvation Army’s mission of helping every person in this community who needs it, regardless of their background or creed.

But I appreciate even more the piles of change, the bundles of $1 and $5 bills rolled up together that indicate the givers reached into their pockets and wallets and gave whatever they could.

I wondered how many of them gave up the last of their paychecks to the Salvation Army, how many skipped a Starbucks coffee so their neighbors could have food, how many emptied their meager coffers to fill the red kettle a little more.

It reminds me of Jesus’ parable told in Matthew and Luke of the wealthy man who gave large sums that made up a small portion of his holdings and the poor man who gave a modest sum that amounted to all he had at his disposal. God favored the man who gave all over the wealthy man who kept so much for himself.

I see evidence in those kettles of people giving all they had, and I say a prayer that God blesses them.

This community, often nickels and quarters and dimes at a time, gives tens of thousands of dollars to the Salvation Army, all of it going to help people of this community make a better life for themselves and their families.

The bell-ringing followed more than $350,000 given to dozens of local charities through the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan’s Giving Tuesday campaign.

Every time a need arises here, this community comes through.

When a local group needed a new van to transport disabled veterans, you came through. When cancer support group Friends Together needed thousands of dollars to receive a match through an anonymous benefactor, you came through. When the Boys and Girls Club of Alpena needed a new building, you came through. When the Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan needed funds to build a new exhibit, you came through.

Time and time and time again, you come through, Northeast Michigan.

And that is what makes a community not only survive but thrive.

The state can give grants and banks can finance projects and all of that is welcome, but the only way we can do everything that needs doing in this community is by stepping up for one another.

As I shopped (and shopped and shopped) this holiday season, as I played carols and watched Christmas movies and attended my church’s Christmas Eve service, I felt connected to Christmas and felt peace.

But nothing got me into the Christmas spirit quite like watching this community give.

Thank you for giving, Northeast Michigan.

You’ve truly made this community a better place.

Justin A. Hinkley can be reached at 989-354-3112 or jhinkley@TheAlpenaNews.com. Follow him on X @JustinHinkley.