In hard times, proof that the spirit of giving is alive and well

Last night we were guests at a charitable event sponsored by the Greater Lawrence Kiwanis Club in Andover.

It was a fun event with great food and lots of laughs. But, most of all, it was a very successful evening to raise money in support of young people.

Local businesses pitched in with some very generous donations. Private citizens were in a very generous mood too, giving freely in support of the group. At one point, people even joined together to pool hundreds of dollars in support of one specific local family that's down on their luck these days.

It was heartening to see that, even in difficult economic times like these, people are still anxious to come together in support of a good cause. And even though they might not be wealthy personally, they're willing to share what they have in support of others.

In a world where government is often seen as the unifying force which helps people to get by, we think it's refreshing to see examples like this where there is a groundswell of charitable support from the grassroots level. And, while we openly acknowledge a proper role for government in keeping people and communities vibrant, we think this is the way things ought to be.

Congratulations to everyone who was involved with this very successful evening. Greater Lawrence Kiwanis Club, you rock!