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Generosity

Herbert Smith, 31, waits for clothes to be finished Monday at a laundromat in Washington, D.C., that is frequented by the less-well-to-do. Recent studies show that those who make less tend to give a larger percentage of their income to charity and in tough economic times richer Americans tend to cut back on charitable donations more. McClatchy Tribune (McClatchy Tribune / The Spokesman-Review)
By D.F. Oliveria daveo@spokesman.com(509) 319-0354
Herbert Smith, 31, waits for clothes to be finished Monday at a laundromat in Washington, D.C., that is frequented by the less-well-to-do. Recent studies show that those who make less tend to give a larger percentage of their income to charity and in tough economic times richer Americans tend to cut back on charitable donations more. McClatchy Tribune (McClatchy Tribune / The Spokesman-Review)
Herbert Smith, 31, waits for clothes to be finished Monday at a laundromat in Washington, D.C., that is frequented by the less-well-to-do. Recent studies show that those who make less tend to give a larger percentage of their income to charity and in tough economic times richer Americans tend to cut back on charitable donations more. McClatchy Tribune (McClatchy Tribune / The Spokesman-Review)

This headline caught my eye: ” Poor are most generous givers” http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/may/22/poor-are-most-generous-givers/

The story states:

“In fact, America’s poor donate more, in percentage terms, than higher-income groups do, surveys of charitable giving show. What’s more, their generosity declines less in hard times than the generosity of richer givers does.”

Why is this? Is it the empathy factor, or is it the more “stuff” we have the less we want to share?

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "Huckleberries Online." Read all stories from this blog