Our daughter and her husband are branding kindness. There is an initiative that is propagating acts of generosity, selflessness, and everyday goodness. Based in the trust that small gestures have large ramifications, the website includes stories about people who venture out into the world with the aspiration to help others. Strangers. Friends. Fellow travelers. 

Sometimes these philanthropists are met with skepticism. I confess that I have spurned offers from people that I suspected were out to make a buck. But we have also been the grateful recipient of immeasurable altruism. Like the time John lost his wallet when he was trying to get from Baltimore to Philly. While he haggled with the ticket agent a man walked up and plopped down his credit card. 

"I'll pay for it."

This week fifty hearty souls showed up to cook twice as many meals to be delivered to folks on overwhelm. In handy containers labeled for gluten and dairy, portions of soup, and apple bread, lasagna and chili will show up at people's doors.  Some of the kindness crew arrived at homes armed with rakes and hammers. They helped fix broken fences, and made piles of crunchy brown leaves. Others cleaned kitchens and pulled weeds. Not for pay, or pay back. Rather to spread benevolence in a world that is starved for it.