Famed children’s TV host Mr. Rogers once said that his mother reacted to frightening stories in the news by telling him, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Everywhere you look, people are doing good for their families, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers. They give out of a desire to bring happiness to others, to share their good fortune with those who haven’t been so lucky, and to help create a better world for everyone. Many do not seek the spotlight but, in fact, go out of their way to avoid glorifying themselves through acts of charity. But Mama Rogers was right: if you look for them, you will always see the helpers.

The holiday season brings out a particularly generous spirit in many people. From feeding the hungry, to providing toys for children, to finding new homes for cats and dogs, and everything in between, anonymous donors are giving back in force and spreading holiday cheer.

In Minnesota, an anonymous donor gave hundreds of toys to the Salvation Army for children at Christmas. Those toys will be among tens of thousands of gifts provided by the organization to needy kids in the region.

“We’re committed to ensuring that every child feels the spirit of Christmas, no matter their circumstances,” Captain Josh Polanco, Salvation Army Twin Cities commander said. “This incredible donation reminds us of the power of giving and how one person’s generosity can brighten the lives of so many.”

In Florida, a food pantry called Matthew’s Hope has struggled to meet rising demand amid surging inflation. Fortunately, the charity received an anonymous matching grant for contributions received during the holiday season. The organization’s founder noted that this time of year brings much-needed donations.

“The interesting thing about this time of year is that we will see about 40% of our budget for next year,” he said. The anonymous donor’s grant will help make the most of those gifts and hopefully stock full shelves at Matthew’s Hope.

Also in Florida, an anonymous donor is helping an overcrowded pet shelter find homes for animals by covering adoption fees through the holidays. “All the fees are completely sponsored by our anonymous donor,” said Animal Services Manager Steven Lerner. “It’s a considerable amount to really help the community get over the initial hump, that barrier which may be keeping them from getting a new family member.”

In Kansas, an anonymous donor is making sure needy families have hot Christmas meals to enjoy. Over 60 baskets with food items ready to be cooked for a Christmas dinner were distributed by Be Filled of South Topeka. “We know that prices are really high right now and it’s difficult to purchase food let alone holiday meals, which are more expensive anyway. So this just really helps them not to worry about their Christmas meal,” said Jamie Jalil, executive director of Be Filled.

These are just a small handful of stories of people doing good privately. There are countless more – most of which we’ll never hear about. The holidays are a time of joy but also a time of grief and struggle for many. Through private giving, we can turn our feelings of goodwill into service for our community that uplifts all of us.

So this holiday season, thank a helper. Be a helper, if you can. And no matter what scary or hateful things you see in the media, remember that there are real heroes out there doing good for their communities – even if you don’t know who they are.