Many will have been surprised at the level of reaction to the spontaneous generosity displayed at a Wanganui supermarket and made public via the Chronicle's Facebook page.
However, the runaway success of the pay-it-forward brigade and their postings of giving and receiving as a result of others' generosity is byno means unexpected. The reality is that good things happen all the time, it's just people don't celebrate them as much as they ought.
So often people who receive such gifts are embarrassed to admit they were caught out. Those who give mostly don't do so for publicity so steer well clear of making a big noise.
So we should congratulate Janet Hartell for drawing attention to the fact that there are kind people who give to others and seek no reward in return. She has already done her bit to honour the philosophy by donating cash and eggs to be given to someone deserving.
But rather than focus on the incident, which was in itself a small but no less meaningful gesture, we should consider the momentum it has gained since first being made public. As of yesterday, the post had gained more than 1800 comments and 30,500 "likes" on Facebook. The Chronicle has already done two stories on Ms Hartell's situation and the phenomenon that her posting has become. We hope to do more, and have suggested ways people can contribute to keep the ball rolling.
What momentum this Wanganui Good Samaritan's gesture is generating. The trick now will be to see how far it can go.
We shouldn't underestimate the cumulative effect of many small efforts. With the power of a community known for its supportiveness and willingness to give, Wanganui is more likely than anywhere else to make something of this spark of goodwill.
