This column first appeared in CityView magazine’s November 2026 edition.
The phrase, “It’s better to give than to receive,” feels almost cliche. You’ve heard it uttered so many times—by your mom, in Sunday school, in Charlie Brown cartoons—that you breeze right by the sentence without studying the gravity of the statement.
It’s a phrase that becomes fully understood with maturity. As a kid, receiving stays the main objective. You’ll always remember that official Red Ryder carbine-action, 200 shot range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock that you received for Christmas when you were nine, but you can’t remember a single tie, bowling ball, or can of Simoniz opened by Dad.
It’s not until adulthood that the joy of giving clicks. Maybe it’s activated after discovering love in a romantic relationship, watching your firstborn open birthday presents for the first time, or seeing a helping hand change lives for the better.
There’s this moment in time when you perform an act of kindness and realize, “hey, that felt really nice.”
In this month’s issue, we focus on the generosity so ever present in our area.
There’s an in-depth look at the effort nonprofits have made to overcome food insecurity. The generosity of others keeps the hunger crisis at bay.
We sat down with Mary Holmes, president and CEO of the Cumberland Community Foundation, to talk about endowments and the organization’s work in distributing donations across the region.
An examination of the big promises—and delays—in the county’s unhoused support center project revealed the challenges of building and staffing a homeless shelter. Those dedicated to improving the lives of the unhoused community stand behind the stalled initiative.
With cold-and-flu season upon us, Cape Fear Valley Health System shared information to help patients determine which type of care facility to visit to receive the most appropriate and timely care. It’s all part of the hospital’s $110 million initiative to expand the emergency department and improve system-wide wait times.
Fayetteville State University explained how giving and grant money are behind the campus’ recent boom. The school’s expansion benefits the nursing program and others that train those who give back to the community.
Our columnists this month share their experiences with generosity. One shares her experiences with heroes who fly under the radar, while another spotlights the rich history of nonprofits in the area.
Our To-Do List provides a host of fun November events, as we leave autumn behind and sleigh full-speed into the holiday season.
You’ll also enjoy photos from the International Folk Festival in this month’s Seen @ the Scene section.
This giving season, remember the quote from It’s a Wonderful Life—“All that you can take with you is that which you have given away.”
