To Kelly Rowland, featured in our front page story, it has a literal meaning. Disabled by injury, she seeks donations to get back to a home refitted for her independence.

To the local CWA, featured in today's Town Talk (page 2), it has a broader meaning, calling on the community to dignify needy and homeless women with sanitary products.

Chris Walker, a "man with a charity caravan" also featured on page 2, goes even further afield - all the way to Birdsville - in a bid to take goods and goodwill to the outback.

Unfortunately, some use the phrase obnoxiously to perhaps ease a sense of guilt or doubt about their unwillingness to reach out to others, even neighbours, in genuine need.

It's also bandied about, politically, to defend decisions taken in Australia's name to turn back refugees and cut international aid (while building more war ships and planes).

But when the phrase was first coined, "charity" didn't mean merely giving alms. From the Latin caritas, it meant kindness, a state of benevolence; as in faith, hope and charity.

So even if our material possessions are few and our bank balance has a tipping point closer to zero than zillions, each of us still has much more that we can offer each other.

For starters, can you help Kelly or Chris or the CWA? To quote the Australian muso Paul Kelly, "from little things big things grow". Just a little could mean a lot to them.

Or go further still and find out what you could give by way of time and companionship to new Goulburnians at the Multicultural Centre (as June 19 to 25 is Refugee Week).

If politics is your passion, get along to the Hume Candidates Forum at the Goulburn Workers Club on Thursday at 6.30pm to tell them how they can help the electorate.

Perhaps your neighbourhood is already one where homes are open to each other, in good times and bad, and family and friends can count on each other for a helping hand?

If you have a great neighbour, the Post wants to hear about them as part of our Nabo Australia "Meet the Neighbours" series, a national initiative between Nabo and Fairfax.

Nabo founder Adam Rigby remembers growing up in a neighbourhood where all the kids would hang out together and the families often gathered together for barbecues.

"Talking to people now, it is happening less and less," Mr Rigby says. "It's such a shame as there are so many benefits from having a tight-knit community."

He founded nabo.com.au as a new social media tool and is aiming for the venture to become Australia's third social network, alongside Facebook and LinkedIn.

So if you have a great neighbour, email the Post and tell us about them. Charity begins at home. What does it mean to you?