Good deeds in bad times

Judy Keen reports in USA TODAY :

Bad times can bring out the best in people.

Mounting layoffs and tumbling stock prices are creating economic anxiety and forcing many people to cut back on charity, but the nation's woes also are inspiring people to make generous gestures to acquaintances, employees and even strangers.

Danny Cottrell, owner of the Medical Center Pharmacy in Brewton, Ala., and a health care store in Atmore, gave $16,000 to his 24 employees. Full-time workers each got $700 and part-timers got $300. Cottrell asked them to donate 15% to charity and spend the rest in local stores.

Cottrell wanted to show his appreciation to employees and help other businesses. When he gave out the cash, he says, "people at one store, they all cried, and at the other one, they just sat stunned. … It's been a blast."

Melissa Brown, associate director of research at The Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University, says there's "a tremendous impulse to altruism genetically in mankind."

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