Advent begins today. In many homes that celebrate this Christian tradition, Advent candles, encircled in a wreath, are lighted each night. Lighted during the darkest days of the year. Lighted with the anticipation of the good news to come.

The media do not focus much on good news of any kind. The saying goes that when 100 planes land safely, this is not news. But when a plane crashes, it’s a different story. This will get covered. This is news.

In these darkest days, in these coldest times, the world can feel a hostile, unwelcoming place. But all this past week, good news was happening in our Inland Northwest communities. Planes of generosity and volunteerism landed safely.

I witnessed good news in three different settings. Let me share those stories briefly here, because none of these events got covered and likely won’t be covered in the future. Journalists could give you a hundred reasons why. Today I say, why not?

On Wednesday evening, at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Spokane, Susan Cairy, volunteer coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocate program, honored folks called “CASAs.” These 180 CASAs are the special forces of the volunteer world. They advocate for children going through Spokane County’s court system. The children have been abused, neglected, abandoned. CASAs provide the voice for these voiceless children.

Susan cannot offer her volunteers glamour or recognition. Instead, she offers the truth. This job is hard, she tells them. If you grew up in fairy tale homes, this job will show you the darker side of Grimm.

The CASAs I met Wednesday downplayed their volunteer work. Louise Stamper has advocated for eight children in 10 years. One time a mother honored her by saying “Thank you for caring for my child when I couldn’t.” Another time, Louise ran into a child she once helped. He said, “There’s my guardian angel.”

But Louise and the others don’t do the work for kudos. They do it to make a difference. And they are.

Thursday afternoon, in Superior Court Judge Linda Tompkins’ courtroom, graduates of drug court shared kudos, cake and coffee. The courtroom was packed with adults whose lives intersected with chaos because of drugs. The graduates have stayed clean and sober, attended support group meetings, performed community service work and struggled to understand their addictions. Their felony drug charges were dismissed because of it.

Graduate David Morse said: “I shouldn’t be here right now. I should be in the pen. This is an honor, man.”

At 6:45 Friday morning, Northeast Spokane Kiwanis Club members and guests were buying raffle tickets and eating breakfast together. They were raising money for their Camp for Kids project. Each year, they provide scholarships for children who might not be able to go to camp otherwise.

A young woman named Candy Lindner spoke to the group. Her mother was killed in June 1994 by a madman racing through Fairchild Air Force Base. Candy went to camp the next summer, still grieving beyond words. Camp became her place of peace and sanity each year thereafter. This summer, Candy hopes to work as a counselor at Camp Sweyolakan on Lake Coeur d’Alene.

All this month groups will gather to honor their volunteers or to raise and distribute money for worthy causes. You won’t read much about these holiday parties or see them on the evening news.

But trust me, these celebrations are out there, filled with people quietly breaking the good news in our community, now and to come.