"The younger folk helped out the old when they got sick, and the older folk helped the people with little children when they needed a sitter. This kind of social cohesion doesn't exist in secular society"
Religious people do not have a monopoly on kindness. If you compare social programs in religious vs non secular societies(e.g europe vs USA) you will find the exact opposite of what you say.
For this American, the unique thing wasn't so much kindness but contact. I may be a nice guy, but from day to day I just don't run into anyone under 22 or over 30.