Nonprofit Reveals the True Nature of Human Kindness in Times of Crisis

For Louisiana, the state’s residents are still assessing the catastrophic damage caused by the record flooding that took place last week. One nonprofit is out there doing what they can, and in the midst of such tragedy and destruction, they reveal a truth that is sometimes overlooked: It’s everyday people who can usually make the biggest impact in times of need.

In a post on Facebook that has been liked thousands of times, Shawna Downs told Love What Matters that usually when her nonprofit group (which remained unnamed, but according to images submitted, they are volunteers from GSSMI.org) requests help and donations, large corporations have too much “red tape and conditions, 6 month turn around times” to be as effective as individual people. She credits the regular, everyday people that she meets with being the most generous.

Downs praises people like “Amy at Walgreens” who pulled out her own debit card to pay for a request for help, or “Amanda and Annabelle” who spent a morning gathering first aid supplies and bleach. Then there’s “Dickie,” who opened on a Sunday, “for possibly the first time ever, to fill buckets of supplies to give.”

“In times of crisis it’s the people who make a difference, the individuals, the small business owners… Neighbors helping neighbors. Strangers helping strangers. Love overflowing division. That is what we learn from the Louisiana flooding. Together we are strong,” wrote Downs.

While there is no doubt corporations do contribute much to society in the terms of their charitable giving, Downs reminds us that it’s the small businesses in local communities who have the biggest stakes when needs arise for those around them. Supporting these people and small businesses is paramount for a local economy.

Read the full post below.