Remember the Hidden Cash craze of last summer?
Sure you do: Bored rich people across America hid cash and egged on the non-rich to run all over trying to find the loot.
Oh, there was some pretense about giving the found money to charity. But from what I saw most finders were keepers.
I was reminded of this while reading an article about suspended coffee, something which began in Naples, Italy, approximately five years ago.
Apparently Italians are madder for coffee than Americans. Ninety percent of adult Italians drink coffee, the article stated, and there is one coffee bar for every 490 Italians.
So, going without coffee is hardship in Italy.
Spontaneously, people began paying for two cups of coffee but only drinking one. They “suspended” receiving the second cup and with the help of the coffee bar the second cup of coffee was given to someone who couldn’t afford to pay.
Participating coffee bars would provide a receptacle for depositing receipts or display the receipts in the widow.
But the people there have more needs than coffee.
People are hungry. The idea of “suspending” spread in Italy to food. Restaurants began suspending pizzas, sandwiches and other food items.
And since people hunger for more than food and drink bookstores began suspending so the needy could have nourishment for the mind.
I like this Italian way of helping much better than the American Hidden Cash craze.
“Suspending” has its advocates here in America, but already American cynicism is raising its head. I read some sneers on the internet:
• How can we be sure poor people will claim the coffee?
• How can we expect computerized coffee chains to keep track of all this?
I don’t know. Italians manage to do it. Seems worth a try.
It sure beats watching sweaty, greedy folks this summer rummaging through garbage looking for Hidden Cash.
I’ll take my humanity and generosity Italian-style.