This past Saturday morning, I attended an auction in Rock Falls, where the holiday spirit was alive and well. It so happened that there were lots of new toys and gifts up for sale, and the auctioneer had the inspired idea to set up a table for Toys for Tots, suggesting that people might want to buy an extra item for the needy.

Well, auction-goers are notorious for their – shall we say – thriftiness, so I wondered how that idea would play out.

I needn’t have worried, however, because long before the auction ended, the table was piled high with nice gifts and another table had been added. There were more smiles and enthusiasm in the crowd than I had seen in years.