From the Bahá'í Center opening its doors to shelter more than 240 fire victims, to the warp-speed coordination of the Willow Glen Elementary School PTA to collect donations within hours following the disaster, the community showed an extraordinary side of itself.

It was more than just the neighborhood's Internet elist conversation that made things happen. It was a restaurant like Lincoln Avenue's Siena donating a portion of its sales, and the San Jose Center for Spiritual Living on Clark Avenue contributing 50 percent of its March tithe. It was Walgreen employees giving away warm clothes at the scene, as the fire blazed to six alarms on that cold and rainy morning. It was Councilman Ken Yeager and San Jose Fire Chief Jeff Clet making it possible for people to drop off donations at Fire Station No. 6--needed items like diapers, toiletries, blankets and clothes. Willow Glen residents gave this and much more without hesitation because they knew most of the fire victims had lost everything.

In fact, many residents, immediately upon hearing the news, went through their closets or drove to the closest store to purchase essentials for people they didn't know and would probably never meet.

What happened on that March 23 morning and in the days that followed was a terrific example of one neighborhood's outpouring of kindness toward humanity. It was proof that there are communities where people care about one another, where the well-being and welfare of each individual, no matter what their race, religion, or ethnicity, is still viewed as paramount.

Willow Glen citizens proved that not all neighborhoods in Silicon Valley suffer from self-absorption and alienation. This San Jose ZIP code demonstrated that the people could be part of something much bigger and better, with a sense of purpose that extends beyond their driveways and into the community at large.

Willow Glen citizens showed that they are more than just proactive about maintaining their neighborhood's quality of life. During the disaster, these residents affirmed the importance of everyone's quality of life.

What happened in that moment on March 23 was a wonderful illustration of how things should work, how one community can bring about a change. When Willow Glen residents were told that the American Red Cross only took monetary donations, the community bonded together to find another solution for getting the day-to-day essentials into the hands of the fire victims. When Bahá'í Center member and Willow Glen resident Jim Jam saw people standing in the cold, barefoot and scared, he didn't wait for bureaucracy to offer a solution; he simply went down to the burning apartments and told the fire department that the Bahá'í Center doors were open. When Walgreen employees saw victims without coats or jackets, they just grabbed sweatshirts from inside the store and handed them out.

Out of the ashes of the Glen Willow Apartments rose the phoenix, which took the shape of a neighborhood, a group of people who pushed aside their daily routines and personal needs to help with other people's lives--240 lives that were caught in harm's way.

It was a remarkable thing to watch unfold, and a stellar example of how things can happen quickly and positively when everyone unites and pitches in.