Give a bit, get a lot

Not everybody can afford $50 or $100 tickets to fancy fundraisers, let alone bid on awesome but expensive auction items.

But who can't figure out a way to find $10 or $20 for a cause worthy of support? Right: With a little bit of sacrifice, most people can forgo a couple of lattes or a trip to the theater for something that lasts longer and feels better.

That's why The Press supports the inaugural Idaho Gives project, which begins at midnight tonight. Anybody can log on to idahogives.org and, in just a couple of minutes, donate $10 or more to any of nearly 60 important North Idaho nonprofits hungry for more support.

Residents long established and reasonably comfortable already have, for the most part, aligned their ability to give with the charity or charities they deem most important. While these mainstays of benevolence are welcome to participate in Idaho Gives, the program isn't really designed for them. It's more of a hands-on class in The Benefits of Giving 101.

Anyone who has donated hard-earned time or money to local nonprofits understands the magic of that process. Research shows that the giver gets more out of a gift than does the recipient. Mental and physical well-being both are enhanced when we give of ourselves.

Most newspaper readers are established residents and we believe many of you already have dedicated routes for your altruism. But what about your children, or your grandchildren? The young couple next door? The newest members of your church or other social gathering?

We recommend you pass along to them this editorial, or simply ask them to long on to idahogives.org anytime tomorrow. If they haven't given to local charity before, you'll be introducing them to one of life's most rewarding experiences.