Legal Definitions - alms

Alms refers to money, food, or other goods given voluntarily to help those in need, typically out of charity or compassion.

Here are some examples illustrating the concept of alms:

• During the holiday season, a local church organizes a drive to collect canned goods, warm blankets, and toys. These items are then distributed to families experiencing poverty in the community.

  This illustrates alms because the church is collecting and distributing essential goods as a charitable act to provide relief to the poor and needy families.

• An individual walking through a city park encounters a street musician playing for donations. The individual stops, listens for a moment, and then places a few dollars into the musician's open instrument case.

  This demonstrates alms as the money given is a voluntary donation intended to provide direct financial relief or support to someone perceived to be in need or earning a meager living.

• Historically, a wealthy landowner might have set aside a portion of their harvest each year to be distributed among the landless laborers and destitute families living on or near their estate, especially during harsh winters or times of scarcity.

  This example shows alms in a historical context, where a benefactor provides material relief (food from the harvest) to the poor and vulnerable members of society, often as a moral or religious duty.