JUST LIKE THE GREAT DEPRESSION...:

Despite Economic Dip, Giving Rose in 2007: Donations Passed $300 Billion for 1st Time (Philip Rucker, 6/23/08, Washington Post)

Americans donated $306 billion to charities in 2007, as U.S. philanthropic giving rose to a record level despite a downturn in the national economy, a survey being released today has found.

Charitable giving increased 1 percent last year, when inflation is taken into account, and surpassed $300 billion for the first time, according to the Giving USA survey.

...except that the folks on street corners are handing out apples....

Posted by Orrin Judd at June 23, 2008 7:12 AM