By Diane Costello

In a heartwarming Christmas initiative, an anonymous donor set out to make a difference in the lives of others in an unusual way. The benefactor provided $100 to each family attending Glen Mar Church on Christmas Day, but with a unique stipulation—the recipients had to pay it forward to someone in need. This simple act sparked a chain reaction of kindness, touching the lives of those facing various challenges here in Howard County and across the globe.

Stories of compassion and ingenuity emerged among the recipients of this unexpected gift. One family combined the money with some of their own and then used a discount code at Kohl’s to buy and donate eight children’s winter coats. Another family chose to extend a helping hand to a newfound friend residing in a homeless shelter. A different family, recognizing the dedication of their newspaper carrier who recently lost his job, decided to pass the gift to him. He in turn chose to combine the gift with some of his own money to help a community in the Philippines. The money was used to buy rice and candy for the residents.

The generosity did not stop there! One woman who attended the service was gifted $100 from another family to help her travel back to the Ukraine to see her mother and father. While there she planned to pass on the $100 she herself received to her grandfather to pay for his medicine.

Another family donated the money to GiveDirectly, which is a nonprofit that lets donors send money directly to the world’s poorest households. Still others shared the money with locals in need, even divvying up the original amount to share with multiple people.

These acts of kindness near and far, made possible by the anonymous donor’s gesture, embodied the spirit of giving that defines the magic of Christmas.