Surrounded by Generosity: A Message from Development Coordinator Melanie MacKillop

Melanie MacKillop

The human brain is hardwired for generosity. Neuroscience reveals that our mesolimbic system actually lights up when we give. This is the system that forms a key part of the brain’s pleasure circuits and produces dopamine, which makes us feel good. In fact, the act of giving activates this region of the brain even more than receiving. It turns out the old philanthropic adage, “It is better to give than to receive,” is backed by science.

The name of our organization, Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic, starts with the word “neighborhood,” and ours is a big one. Our block party would be quite the event. Indeed, we are only able to serve the legal needs of our most vulnerable neighbors because we are also surrounded by an equally vast network of generosity.

As I compile records of each donation we receive in our database, I see clearly the way that every single contribution adds up. No matter the size, each one is a tangible part of us being able to serve those who need us the most. Last fiscal year, the Clinic received support from 464 different households and/or organizations. Clearly, we do not do this work alone. When members of our community contribute – whether through finances, time, or abundant prayers – they unite with us in our mission to care for the vulnerable.

Generosity among our supporters exists in many forms. We see it demonstrated through the volunteer attorneys who share their legal knowledge and expertise, and who genuinely care for clients throughout the process. We see it through the couple that donated coats for our clients to stay warm in the winter and through the gift of children’s books and toys that keeps little ones entertained while their parents meet with our attorneys.

And we see it through our former clients, who carry inside of them a desire to help those who are facing the same hardships they themselves once faced. One client we helped with a bankruptcy gave us a generous donation after getting back on her feet. “The best part,” she wrote to us, “is giving and helping others.”

Another donor watched her friend receive immigration relief through our work. As a result, her friend gained employment, earned a driver’s license, and established a life here in the United States. “My dear friends, you gave her life,” she wrote in a letter to our staff. “That might sound really dramatic the way I phrase it. But that is exactly what you did.” And, through her gift, this donor is also bringing life to our community.

To each and every Clinic supporter who makes the choice to give more than they receive – thank you. Though the need for free legal services in Indiana is overwhelming, you give what you are able to give. You buy food to serve our clients at educational events. You fold letters and address envelopes for us. You send an encouraging word to our staff. You make a difference. Because of you, our neighbors have access to an attorney when they might otherwise be forced to face a complicated legal system on their own.

One of my favorite concepts in the Bible comes from Romans 12:10: “Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.” It takes that common human experience of competition and turns it on its head – what if we tried to outdo each other in love and in honor? Now that’s a fight I can get behind.