Whether it’s a fire that threatens to destroy one family’s Christmas, a woman being evicted from her apartment or children trapped in the burned ruins of a failed country, our community is ready to respond.

On Dec. 5, the Sun Journal’s Doug Fletcher reported on the desperate needs of an orphanage in Haiti run by the Rev. Marc Boisvert, a Lewiston native who is a member of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

Boisvert and the 250 children in his care have survived as Haiti has crumbled around them. Earlier this month, Boisvert sent a plea for help to his supporters in Maine: “We have a serious situation confronting us. A representative of the United Nations staff here, the local director of the Bureau of Social Services and the director of emergency preparedness came to see us yesterday. The reason: A small local orphanage is in crisis. Sixty-four little boys and one little girl ranging in age from 2 to 14 are housed in an abandoned school in Fonfrede.

“No beds, no food and no money. The director of the small orphanage has sold all his personal belongings to buy food and now he has nothing left. The three visitors asked us to take in these children.”

Once word of the need spread, help was on its way.

On Dec. 21, Boisvert sent another message back to Lewiston: “It is really unfair that I get to witness these wonderful moments while you all are responsible for them happening. … I need to thank Dr. Cynthia (DeSoi at St. Mary’s Medical Center) in a special way. She and her community responded generously to my appeal describing the crisis … and that generated mucho monies.

“Maybe because it is Christmas or maybe it is because it’s about children, I am not sure, but the reaction of the Maine community was immediate and generous.”

Similarly, the Oxford County town of Mexico, Christmas arrived for 3-year-old Willow Ollis and her family even though a fire destroyed their home and threatened their holiday spirit. Donated toys and help from the Red Cross were quick to arrive.

In Auburn, Lisa Fortier found out earlier this month that she and other tenants at 985 Turner St. were losing their apartments. She came home from work one day and found the building marked for demolition. After her plight was revealed, donations started to come in. But the help went beyond money. People called to tell her they had seen “For Rent” signs and wanted her to know. One caller offered to let Fortier’s family use her house in Auburn, leaving the message: “It’s Christmas. We’re supposed to look out for each other at Christmas.” Other help kept coming. Someone had a moving truck she could use, others wanted to send Christmas presents. A relief fund was started.

In the Dr. Seuss classic, a mean-hearted Grinch tries to steal Christmas from the good residents of Whoville. He sneaks into town in the dead of night and hauls away all the trappings of the holiday. As he sets to enjoy his fiendish success, the truth of the season is revealed.

“He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes! Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise! Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small, Was singing! Without any presents at all! He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME! Somehow or other, it came just the same …

“Maybe Christmas,’ he thought, doesn’t come from a store.’

“Maybe Christmas … perhaps … means a little bit more!'”

We won’t discount that Christmas and the plight of children play a role in the outpouring of help to Boisvert’s orphanage and to the others who needed assistance, but we know it happens all year long. That makes our hearts grow three sizes this day.