Extending a warm hand in cold weather

There's an old children's ditty, sung to the tune of John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever, that might well serve as inspiration for generosity this winter.

"Be kind to your web-footed friends," the lyrics go, "for that duck may be somebody's mother".

Though light in spirit, the words are heavy with meaning that can apply in this cold season as we rush past some of our much less fortunate brethren.