In Little Women*, Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy decide to give up their cream and muffins on Christmas morning in order to surprise the needy widow with a gift.
* Louisa May Alcott, American novelist (1832 - 1888)

"Resolve this holiday you'll try to perform some small act of saintliness. It could be as simple as a check to your favourite charity , or donating a few hours to read to the children at the library. But it could also be something that doesn't require someone else's official organization. . . dropping off a fresh batch of holiday cookies at the police station or firehouse. When doing your biannual closet-edit, bring the fashion rejects to the Salvation Army."
~ Swell Holiday, Cynthia Rowley & Ilene Rosenzweig, Atria Books.

"The best portions of a good man's life,
his little, nameless, unremembered acts,
of kindness and love."
~ William Wordsworth, English poet (1770 - 1850)