The holiday season certainly has the potential to bring people together, but for some, it goes beyond the typical gift exchange.
One homegrown foundation is on a mission to inspire acts of kindness.
The Maxgiving foundation was an idea that was stirred up at a dinner between close friends.
Max Mohammadi, a former downtown Boise restaurant owner, served as the inspiration. Every Thanksgiving he would feed the homeless at his restaurant. It's a tradition that continues on today under the bridge.
And now, Mohammadi dedicates much of his time to collecting and cooking food for those in need on a daily basis.
"Often people say, 'They [homeless folks] don't want to be helped,'" Mohammadi said. "I really don't believe that."
Mohammadi couldn't do it without donations from fellow community members. In doing so, he hopes to give rise to others performing acts of kindness when they see a need.
"I feel like I'm there for the needy in our community, the people who are in trouble, who have lost their ways, if you will," he said.
Mohammadi's friend, Dan Harrington, founded the Maxgiving foundation. The owner of a secure, electronic payment company offers such services to non-profits, providing them with event management software and websites, besides access to online auction capabilities. They now serve clients in the U.S., Canada and the Virgin Islands.
Harrington shares the same vision as Mohammadi. They encourage everyone to take a moment to think about what they're doing to make the world a better place for all to live.
"Giving doesn't necessarily have to be about money," Harrington said, who is the president and CEO of Maxgiving. "It's giving of your time, giving of yourself in ways where you're encouraging people and getting involved."
On the first Friday of every month, guests are invited to enjoy lunch and learn more about different non-profits within the community. You are asked to RSVP and arrive around 11:30 a.m. The event is held at the Maxgiving Conference Center in Boise off of Franklin Road.
