Family Life

Dog Mysteriously Wanders to Neighbor's House Exactly When Most Needed

Sat, 25 May 2013 15:13:29 +0100

An Alaskan malamute with a nose for mischief suddenly found a new mission for her afternoons: paying a daily visit to an ailing elderly neighbor and easing the stress of an entire family. Normally Carol gets complaints about the dog, but this unexpected knock at the door was different. A man said, “We have a sliding-glass door that we usually keep open in the summer, and every day for the last several weeks your dog has wandered off the street and come uninvited into my house.” Carol jumpe...

18-yo Winner of Doodle 4 Google Honors Soldier Dad

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:37:27 +0100

Today's Google homepage features young Sabrina Brady's winning artwork submit to the annual Doodle 4 Google contest. The competition invites K-12 students in the United States to use their artistic talents to think big and redesign the Google logo for millions to see. This year, students were given the theme, “My Best Day Ever…"...

Stood up on Prom Night Tearful Girl Meets a Prince Charming at the Burger Joint

Wed, 22 May 2013 18:09:14 +0100

A gallant young man working at a burger joint saved a heartbroken teen from one of the most humiliating nights of her life as she was stood up on prom night. All dressed up in a gorgeous orange gown, Kelsey Baker would have stayed home after getting the dreaded last-minute text message, but her mom dragged her to Jim's Hot Dogs and Hamburgers to show-off how she looked to her aunt. Bryan Hayes, 18, was working that Saturday night....

Tornado Survivor Finds Buried Dog During TV Interview (WATCH)

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:32:10 +0100

An elderly woman being interviewed by a television crew was literally counting her blessings after her beloved schnauzer peaked out from beneath the rubble in Moore, OK and was spotted by a producer. “Bless your little bitty heart!” cooed Barbara Garcia, who stooped down surrounded by the debris of her flattened neighborhood....

18-Year-old's Invention Can Charge a Cell Phone in 30 Seconds

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:48:13 +0100

An 18-year-old girl from California may have solved the most annoying problem confronting her fellow teens and she earned an Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award for her work. Eesha Khare from Lynbrook High School in San Jose will receive college grants worth $50,000 for her super-capacitor design that can charge a phone in less than a minute....

8-Year-old Girl Wouldn't Stop Until Old Soldier Got His Medals

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:27:51 +0100

When elderly veteran Charles Mowbray came to her primary school to talk about his experience in World War II, Leanna Morris wondered why he didn't bring his medals earned for bravery. He only brought pictures of medals. When she learned it was because the government forgot to send them, she felt moved to do something about it. A few weeks ago, she wrote a long letter to her senator, Barbara Mikulski, asking her to please get those missing medals to the old soldier soon....

Solider and Stray Cat Save Each Other in Afghanistan

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:11:01 +0100

He's a battle-tested, decorated army sergeant who risked his life to protect our country. But it's a more personal risk he took that's getting a lot of attention. In the midst of Staff Sgt. Jesse Knott's lowest moment in Afghanistan, following a suicide bombing, a feral cat climbed into his lap and restored his faith and his humanity....

15 Foods That Can Be Regrown From Scraps

Sun, 19 May 2013 15:00:53 +0100

There is nothing like fresh produce from your own garden, but, did you know that there are veggies that you can grow in the kitchen from scraps? "I always have a mason jar of green onions regrowing above my kitchen sink. The technique is quite simple," writes the Mrs. Happy Homemaker blog. Once you have used the original onion, simply place the root end in a jar of water & it will begin to regrow within just a few days....

Soldier in Disguise Surprises Daughter in Front of Baseball Crowd (WATCH)

Sat, 18 May 2013 11:59:41 +0100

A 9-year-old girl who was chosen to throw out the first pitch at a baseball game brought tears to every eye in the stadium when she found out the catcher was actually her father, a soldier home from Afghanistan, in disguise. Alayna Adams, who thought she was being honored because her father was serving overseas, walked to the mound after seeing a taped message from her father on the big screen at the Tampa Bay field....

First Graders' Acts of Kindness Catch On

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:18:26 +0100

The group's name may not catch on, but the idea certainly has. SPPRAK (Special People Performing Random Acts of Kindness) began in an Indiana school district as a way to get students, teachers and staff to show more kindness to each other. To help change the culture in the schools they began urging everyone to jot down the acts of kindness they experienced or performed throughout their day on colorful sticky notes....

Son Surprises His Mom With A House For Mother's Day

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:52:38 +0100

"I am the man I am today because of you," he said at the start of a video. "So I just want to thank you." For years, she worked every day, seven days a week, starting at 5 or 6 in the morning preparing food for her neighborhood market. And in 2002 she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Through much pain and suffering, she persevered to eventually become a ten-year survivor. But something she worked so hard for was lost with so many medical bills in the midst of an economic downturn. Living in ...

Daring Rescue of Dog From Cliff Saves Family Pet

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:34:08 +0100

On Sunday morning, a dog that had been lost for days was spotted atop a 75 foot cliff near a waterfall in Elma, New York. The Elma Dog Control Officer, Spring Brook Volunteer Fire Department and Erie County Sheriff's Office sprang into action. "We hoisted volunteer fireman D.J. Thompson about 10 to 15 feet up a rock face, where he was able to grab onto some trees and get his hands on the dog," a fire official said....

Teen Born Without Legs and One Arm is Now World Swimming Champ

Sun, 12 May 2013 16:25:54 +0100

Born missing both legs and one arm, Kayla Wheeler's doctor recommended swimming as a form of physical therapy. Now, at age 16, Wheeler is literally breaking world records. And when she’s not swimming, Wheeler also plays baseball, bowls and skis....

'Super Mom' Goes Beyond Adopting Foster Kids

Sat, 11 May 2013 16:13:22 +0100

Valerie Crabbe already had three children when she married a man who also happened to have three kids. But the vivacious Pennsylvania 'Brady Bunch' didn’t stop there. Valerie was moved to adopt two girls in foster care creating a blended family of 10, with members who are black, Hispanic and white -- all feeling loved and engaged with the world....

Critically Ill Maryland Teen Gets Classmate's Heart After Miraculous Match

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:30:16 +0100

Although a teen was killed in a hit-and-run crash, his heart is now giving his ailing friend a chance to live. When Kyle Wilkerson heard the good news, that doctors had a heart for the Maryland teenager, he had a suspicion. The 15-year-old looked up at the cardiologist and asked, "Is it Skylar's heart?"...

Cat Returns Home 6 Months After Hurricane Sandy

Tue, 07 May 2013 13:54:58 +0100

It's a "miracle" for a couple whose cat bolted out the door six months ago after Hurricane Sandy forced the family to flee their New Jersey home.

No one can detail the cat's amazing journey, but the feline somehow managed to travel eight miles to find his Toms River home.

High School Prom King Gives up Crown to Least Popular Kid

Mon, 06 May 2013 15:18:07 +0100

Tyrell Clay, the football quarterback, is the most popular boy at Miller High School in Corpus Christi, Texas. Adam, on the other hand, has been picked on and called names - and was nominated to the prom court as a joke. Adam, who is already book smart, decided to try to boost his social smarts a bit, by actually attending the prom....

Students Create Robotic Locker Opener for Disabled Classmate

Mon, 06 May 2013 13:22:31 +0100

Muscular dystrophy robbed Nick Torrance of his ability to walk, which would be hard enough for a teenager to handle. But it also hindered his everyday capabilities such as opening his locker at school. Fortunately, Nick's high school classmates were clever enough to create a solution as a homework assignment. Two Pinckney Community High School seniors used their robotics ingenuity and created an electronic automatic locker opener....

Puppy Saved From Abuse Helps Autistic Boy Overcome

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:15:27 +0100

Autism left 8-year-old Jonny Hickey closed off and isolated. Most of his social interactions resulted in painful awkwardness; unfamiliar situations can trigger terror or tantrums. Then, about two months ago, everything changed. Jonny forged a connection with a dog so unlikely that people familiar with it describe it as a miracle....

Girl's Desire to End Slavery Turns into Bottled Lemonade Campaign

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:17:25 +0100

It's been more than 300 days since 9-year-old Vivienne Harr of California first started selling lemonade in an effort to help end child slavery. Having collected $500,000 in donations, Vivienne and her family are taking her business to the next level by bottling the precious product for the masses. The proceeds from Vivienne's Make A Stand Lemon-aid and its online equivalent, www.makeastandlemonade.com, go to Free the Slaves; Not For Sale; the Nepal Youth Foundation; and GEMS: Girls Educational ...

Pets Giving Blood to Help Other Dogs and Cats

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:58:53 +0100

Dogs always have been known as loyal companions to humans. These days, they're increasingly helping each other — by giving their blood. Demand for a high level of veterinary care has grown along with pet owners' willingness to give back to the animal community in special ways....

Meet the Family With Six Kids Taking College Courses by Age 12

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:14:44 +0100

The Harding family in Montgomery, Ala., decided to make studying fun by cultivating their kids’ natural curiosity and passions while they studied their lessons. They achieved amazing results: six children who started taking college classes before they were even teens. Mona Lisa Harding has ten children (some already grown) and has home-schooled them all in the basics....

(LINK FIXED) Young Woman Overcomes Foster Care Bureaucracy to Reunite With Two Young Siblings

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:44:08 +0100

Fairy tales are rare in the foster care system, but Meredith Kensington vowed to recreate one even if it took years. Her mother and father struggled with drugs and alcohol, resulting in Meredith and her two younger siblings being taken from them, and split apart from each other. After running away from their abusive foster home and eventually moving into a different home, the two youngest were seemingly lost to their sister forever. In a bureaucratic mistake, Meredith was not allowed any contac...

Mary! Your Message in a Bottle has Arrived...28 years Later

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:13:35 +0100

A Canadian man's message in a bottle -- a promise made 28 years ago to write to a woman named Mary -- has been discovered in Croatia by a local surfer. The note read, "Mary, you really are a great person. I hope we can keep in correspondence. I said I would write. Your friend always, Jonathon, Nova Scotia, 1985"...

US Teen Sends Bikes to India's Poor Children

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 14:10:58 +0100

Thomas Hircock first visited India when he was 12 years old and joined his father on a business trip. He was shocked by the poverty and now he's helping children of the 'Untouchable' caste by giving them bikes. The youngsters wanted bikes so they could travel to school many miles away and lift themselves out of poverty....

How a Museum Exhibit is Changing Lives in Los Angeles

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 20:24:49 +0100

A 10-year-old boy who lives in L.A.'s inner-city has never been on an airplane, but that hasn't stopped him from dreaming of becoming an astronaut when he grows up. He was moved to tears when he saw the Space Shuttle Endeavour fly over his school on its way to its new home at the California Science Center and even more excited when he could walk around the gargantuan space craft at the museum, touching tires that flew in space....

Cast-Out Boy in New School Becomes Beloved as 'The Doorman'

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:33:46 +0100

Bullied every day for years because of his lisp, Josh Yandt and his family moved to London, Ontario, in 2011. Determined not to be "put in a box" by his new classmates, the remarkable young man dramatically changed the trajectory of his life with one small idea: he would hold open the door at school each day. It was his chance to break out of a depression-filled past. He held the door open for hundreds of teenagers that first morning - and every morning since. At first they didn't know what to m...

Photo of Loyal Dog Waiting in Deceased Dad's Truck Touches Hearts

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:20:54 +0100

A photo posted on Reddit has gone viral for its depiction of a loyal dog waiting for their deceased dad on the driver's seat of his tow-truck. The photo caption says their father died in June, but the dog still waits for him every day in the vehicle he used to drive. The truck is still used to move cars on their impound lot, according to the poster AmericanBulldag....

Looking for the Stranger Who Picked up Her Wedding Tab 54 Years Ago

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:50:22 +0100

An Armstrong BC woman named Karel Nordstrom has launched an international search for the mystery man who paid for her and her late-husband’s wedding 54 years ago in England. Karel and Tom Nordstrom were young and broke students when they threw a reception at a restaurant on a shoestring budget. When they went to pay they were told that a fellow diner in the restaurant had already paid....

Teen Girls Find Impossible Strength to Lift 3000 lbs off Dad

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 05:58:15 +0100

An Oregon man pinned by his overturned tractor said his teenage daughters saved his life by miraculously lifting the 3,000-pound machine. Jeff Smith was pulling a stump from his garden in the rural outskirts of Lebanon last week when his tractor flipped upside down pinning him beneath its steering wheel....

Twitter Helped Belfast Woman 'Find Missing Mum'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:23:19 +0100

Twitter and the kindness of strangers brought home an Irish mom with dementia, after her daughter decided to post her photo when she'd gone missing. Hundreds of people retweeted her message: This is my mum & she's gone #missing. Help try & bring her home safe #missing #belfast #plsRT #alzheimers....

California Kayaker Saves Family After SUV Plunges into River

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:06:57 +0100

A kayaker in California is being called a hero for helping to rescue a family after their SUV veered off the road and slammed into a concrete mile marker and tree before coming to rest in the middle of a river near Sacramento. Mark Divittori happened to be kayaking in that part of the river when the mangled vehicle plunged into the river just yards behind him....

Dogs, Cars and Bedrooms: Person-to-person Sharing Explodes

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:08:18 +0100

One of the biggest trends out there is sharing. People like Rob Gonzalez are making a living from renting out cars, formal clothes, rooms to vacationers, and even pets. It has become the norm: People using online sites to share what they have – in the tangible world – with strangers....

Teacher Turns Low-income Kids Into Chess Champions

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:11:15 +0100

Ted Komada, the music teacher who started a chess club nine years ago at Killip Elementary School, hoped to help the mostly low-income students build confidence. Now, his chess team heads to the national finals, after having won five consecutive state championships in Arizona. The club that began with only two kids now attracts one hundred and practices nearly every day....

Hero Dog Saves Pregnant Woman and Her Baby

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:11:01 +0100

Janelle Giannetta, 26 weeks pregnant with her first child, was fed up with her dog Louie Friday morning after he playfully jumped on her, scratching her face. Hours later, the year-old golden doodle was a hero — credited with saving the Long Island woman and her baby. Responding to incessant barking upstairs, Janelle's husband found her stricken by a seizure with foam around her mouth....

Most Americans Think Teen Pregnancy is Getting Worse; Most Americans are Wrong

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:22:46 +0100

Teen births and pregnancies have plummeted over the past two decades, down 42 percent from 1990. Most Americans, it turns out, have no idea that we’re actually in the midst of a big public health success story. Surprisingly, young adults ages 18-34 are most likely to be misinformed....

Hero Man and His Dog Rescue Girls From Freezing River

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:16:43 +0100

A Fort Saskatchewan oil worker who rescued two young girls from the icy waters of the North Saskatchewan River credits adrenalin and his adventurous dog for saving their lives. After hearing screams and seeing a girl floating down the river, Adam Shaw sprinted down to the shore with Rocky, his eight-year-old 110-lb Labrador retriever-husky....

Former Gang Member Becomes Star Student With 4.0 GPA

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:06:03 +0100

The first time Brayan ever held a gun, he pointed it at a woman stepping out of a gray Lexus and stole her purse — his initiation into an older cousin’s gang. He was 12 years old at the time. “I was losing control of my life,” said Brayan, now 17 and a 4.0 student at Scriber Lake High School in Edmonds, Washington....

How Does a Choreographer Propose Marriage and Beat This? (Top Videos)

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:32:09 +0100

Kevin and Abby met as teenagers, performing together in the Summer Stage Shooting Stars. After college, they both returned as co-directors of the group.

What better way for Kevin to propose to Abby than with the Shooting Stars singing and dancing them into their engagement?

Dog Travels 10 Miles in Cold to Reunite with His Love, a German Sheperd

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:33:22 +0100

When Ben, a mixed German shepherd, was separated from the love of his life, he showed there was no distance too far that would prevent him from reuniting with her. After he was adopted from the Indiana Humane Society, Ben went on a 10-mile trek in the middle of winter to find his way back to Jade, a 1-year-old mixed German shepherd....

Stubborn Mentor for Boy Drop-out Helps Reclaim a Life

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:59:29 +0100

It's an unlikely pair of protégé and mentor that led Matthew Pakkala to go from street-savvy school dropout to focused high-achiever.

It's a tale of a boy's childhood overshadowed by addiction and mental illness at home and of a school principal who - as much a guardian angel as educator - helped him survive it.

British Teen Earns Small Fortune as Yahoo Buys Startup

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:56:47 +0100
One of Britain's youngest Internet entrepreneurs has hit the jackpot after selling his top-selling mobile application Summly to search giant Yahoo. 17-year-old Nick d'Aloisio may be getting several million dollars for his news-summarizing program, if British newspapers are to be believed. D'Aloisio taught himself to code at age 12 to create products for Apple's new App Store, according to the Associated Press....

Inspired by Sister's Death, Girl Helps Young Brain Tumor Patients Make Films

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:03:57 +0100
Angelight Films is a non-profit production company that gives children with brain and spinal cord tumors the opportunity to express themselves by creating and even starring in their own short film. Inspired by her sister who died of a brain tumor at age 5, Stephanie Angel founded Angelight Films as a creative outlet that helps children heal and recognize their inner light....

Make-up Tutorial Helps Older Skin Shed Ten Years (Video)

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:24:16 +0100
Through her online tutorials, and her role on UK television as the beauty expert for three years on the series ‘Ten Years Younger, make-up artist Lisa Eldridge has become an expert on how to do a really great look for ladies in their 50's, 60's and beyond. "The main questions are usually how to make skin look even and fresh without emphasizing lines and how to get eye definition without a harsh end result."...

Lost Dog Reunited After 2 Years And 700 Miles (WATCH)

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:32:43 +0100
When Alma Dominguez’s beloved dog, Leia, went missing from El Paso, Texas, during a rainstorm, Alma and her husband, Alberto, were devastated. The couple searched for their lost dog for more than two years, and had almost given up hope of ever finding her. Then a phone call changed everything. In this clip from the OWN series “Lost and Found," Annmarie Anderson -- a dog rescuer in Denver, Colorado -- recounts the amazing phone call she received from Alma....

17-Year-old Builds Algae Biofuel Lab in Her Bedroom to Win $100,000

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:20:19 +0100
A student passionate about biofuel set up a lab in her bedroom, complete with bubbling beekers, and ended up winning this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. Sara Volz, 17, of Colorado Springs, Colo., won the top award of $100,000 from the Intel Foundation for her research into next-generation algae biofuel. Algae can be converted into a renewable fuel, but it can be costly. Sara used artificial selection to establish populations of algae cells with higher oil content, which could lead to an e...

Runner With Terminal Brain Cancer Wins Marathon While Pushing Daughter

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:42:52 +0100
A man who is living with brain cancer won a marathon this month in Beaumont, Texas while pushing his 6-year-old daughter in a stroller. For just over 26 miles he was racing against time, gaining a memory for his daughter that may live longer than her father. He jokes that he actually came in second, behind the little girl....

After Years of Separation From Foster Mom, 32-year-old Man Finally Adopted

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:14:04 +0100
A boyhood wish finally came true. At age 32, Maurice Griffin was finally adopted. "It was the best day in my life," Griffin said after the proceeding in San Diego Juvenile Court. "I fought for 10 years and finally the day came." The story is somewhat reminiscent of the Blind Side film. Adopting the burly, muscular, mohawk-sporting man is Lisa Godbold, his one-time white foster mother. She was ripped from Griffin's life when he was just 13, after the boy told social services he wanted his parent...

11-Year-Old Author Raises $5,800 on Kickstarter to Self-Publish

Sun, 17 Mar 2013 22:03:30 +0100
117 backers have donated $5,800 on Kickstarter.com so an 11-year-old girl can publishing her own book, called The Clown that Lost His Funny. The author, Lauren Lukaszewski from Atlanta, Georgia, will use the money to pay her illustrator to complete the pictures, and for layout and printing. The original goal of $5,500 was surpassed with just 50 hours left on the clock....

9-year-olds Coach Panicked Mom in CPR to Save Her Baby

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 14:00:15 +0100
Susanna Rohm noticed her 12-week-old infant had stopped breathing. Lucky for her, a 9-year-old boy and his friend were out playing in the street. Scared and home alone, the Marietta, Georgia mother couldn't remember how to give CPR. She jumped up and lost her cellphone in the commotion. There wasn't a landline in the house, so she stepped outside screaming for someone to call 911....

Girl Delivering Thousands of Toys to Sick Kids Makes Final Tally After 13 Years

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:56:39 +0100
Thirteen years ago, Haley Whatley was a 5-year-old with a heart made for Easter. She started a Bunny Drive to benefit sick patients at the local children's hospital. Every year since then Whatley collected plush bunnies and teddy bears for the kids. This year she broke her own record, collecting 3,767 stuffed animals. This is her last year in Texas and the last year for her Bunny Drive, as she heads off to college in North Carolina in the fall. She exits a "Hometown Hero" having donated 28,772 c...

Feminist Hero Dad Hacks Donkey Kong for Daughter

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:48:13 +0100
Mike Mika is a gamer dad, so it’s only natural that he would try to pass on his deep, nerdy love for all things videogame to his offspring. But while the allure of Atari didn’t fully take with his young son, Mika says his daughter “jumps at the chance to play games with her old man.” The 3-year-old has a particular affection for Donkey Kong, but wasn’t so wild about always playing the Mario character. In fact, she wanted Pauline to save the plumber for a change. She wanted to “play a...

Deaf Girl Adopted From China Hears Mother for the First Time

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 23:55:47 +0100
A Tulsa family was finally able to adopt a 5-year-old hearing impaired girl from China with whom they fell in love last June. On Tuesday, thanks to a cochlear implant, their daughter was able to hear for the first time. When the device was activated, she heard her mother's voice and the little girl's face lit up as she toward the sound....

High School Students Participate In Makeup-Free Day (VIDEO)

Sat, 09 Mar 2013 19:37:51 +0100
Teens at Plano Senior High School in Texas are trying to redefine beauty, rallying students to wear no makeup Friday — an initiative they’re calling “Operation Beautiful.”“I just really began to see how I don’t need makeup to be beautiful,” said Madeline Milby, 17, vice president of the student congress and a senior at PSHS, which is in the Dallas suburbs. “There’s so much more to me. It’s your personality, your passion and what’s inside your heart.”...

Where to Donate Your Old Stuff

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:42:24 +0100

My wife and I recently realized that we have a lot of stuff collecting dust. Instead of saving it all in case we need 10 years hence, why not give it to someone who needs it now? In case you feel the same way, here are some useful places to donate all types of things, like cell phones, gift cards and eyeglasses...

Boy, 12, Saves Sister from Drowning

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 03:58:47 +0100
Tony Buuck doesn't want to be called a hero, but the Indiana 12-year-old might not have much choice about it after saving his sister's life when she fell through the ice of a frozen pond. He rushed to save her from the frigid water. But he fell in himself. Tony held onto his sister and treaded water with one hand until their father rushed out and was able to pull Tony, still clutching Sammy, to safety....

Blind Dog's Favorite Activity is Fetching the Ball

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:30:32 +0100

Chica is a happy border collie that lives on the Knox Farm, in Clay County, Indiana.

She regularly darts from the house to the barn and weaves through the chicken and cattle.

But, Chica’s favorite pastime is playing fetch with Martha and Buddy Knox, even though Chica has no eyes at all.

Food Sharing Cooperatives Offer Home Cooked Meals for Busy People

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 16:38:41 +0100
Now people can enjoy a delicious meal cooked with love and care without having to prepare it. Mealku is a combination of multi-family picnic potluck, takeout delivery service, and credit rewards program. It is a food-sharing cooperative aimed at getting to know your neighbors, increasing access to nutritious meals and reducing food waste. The idea to share extra food with others was launched in New York last July and is spreading to other cities now. (WATCH the video below or READ the st...

Boy’s Big Birthday Wish: Help for Dogs Like His

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:19:18 +0100
For his 11th birthday, Sam isn’t begging for the latest video game or Lego set. Instead, the kindhearted Massachusetts boy decided to continue his personal tradition of forgoing birthday gifts in favor of what he prefers — that his family and friends make donations to the New England Saint Bernard Rescue. That’s where his family found his pal Lady Jane 7 years ago....

Pet Soup Kitchen Feeds Pets So Poor People Can Feed Themselves

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 15:15:51 +0100

Tom Wargo’s life changed when he saw an elderly woman sharing her only daily hot meal with a cat.

"That cat was her only friend, giving her reason to get up in the morning and giving her a reason to live,” Wargo said. She couldn't afford pet food, so Wargo dd something about it.

Tiny Disabled Dog is Big Inspiration for Nursing Home Seniors

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:47:04 +0100
A tiny puppy born disabled could not put any weight on her front legs. Not only was she subject to bullying by other puppies in the litter, she was getting bruised by falling on her legs. It was fate that the dog's caretaker decided it would be best to bring her to work -- at the nursing home. The dog named BeeBee became a moving inspiration to the elderly residents there who were going through their own health issues....

Boy, 7, Raises More Than $30,000 for Sick Friend

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:14:14 +0100
Never underestimate first-graders. Jonah Pournazarian, 7, is best friends with Dylan Siegel, 6. Jonah has been diagnosed with glycogen storage disease type 1B , a rare liver disorder that doesn’t have a cure. Dylan decided to raise money for research to help his friend. Late last fall, he hatched a plan. His parents wanted to do a typical lemonade stand effort, but he looked at them and said, "I want to write a book.”...

Teen Walking 10 Miles in Snow to Get a Job Impresses Passerby Who Offers Him Twice the Pay

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:28:27 +0100
An 18-year-old trekking through the ice and slush Friday in Indianapolis determined to arrive on time for a job interview 7 miles away left quite an impression on a restaurant owner who is not used to seeing such a work ethic in someone so young. When Jhaqueil Reagan asked how far it was to the thrift shop at 10th and Sherman, he was told it was at least six more miles. When the man suggested he take the bus, the youngster just said thank you and kept walking. Later, the restaurant owner, Art B...

Boy Scares off Lions With Flashy Solar Invention

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:01:38 +0100
A 13-year-old Massai boy in Kenya has invented an ingenious system to scare off the lions that were killing his family's livestock. Living on the edge of Nairobi National Park, Richard Turere first became responsible for herding and safeguarding his family's cattle when he was just nine. After two years he decided it was time to find a way of protecting his family's cows....

Prison Inmates Help Abused Cats Become More Adoptable

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 14:41:04 +0100
A program at a Washington state prison is improving the lives of abused cats and also the inmates who now care for them. Five felines that were rescued from neglectful or abusive situations currently reside at the prison as part of a cat adoption program coordinated with the Humane Society. The inmates socialize the cats and get them ready to be adopted. One of the cats has already been turned around. When she arrived, she did nothing but hide and refused to eat. Now, after several weeks,...

British Army's Canine Hero Survives Taliban to Help Other Dogs

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 23:12:47 +0100
A stray dog that helped save the lives of two soldiers in Afghanistan and survived capture by the Taliban is a canine hero that now tours Britain with his new owner raising money to help save other Afghan animals. Brin was adopted by the British army when he was found starving and abandoned outside a base in Helmand in 2010. The soldiers discovered he had an in-born talent for sniffing out danger and soon he began accompanying patrols around the area....

Lively Seniors Move to College Towns for Retirement (Video)

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 13:22:52 +0100
A growing number of retirees are moving to some unlikely places. Some are going back to school to keep their minds active. One typical couple returns to their alma mater to see the football team play, but ends up staying because there is so much to do there -- cultural activities, athletics and free lectures....

Teachers Ditch Student Desk Chairs for Yoga Balls

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:11:36 +0100
Robbi Giuliano thinks ditching students' desk chairs in favor of yoga balls is one of the best decisions she ever made in 11 years of teaching. Replacing stationary seats with inflatable bouncers has raised productivity in her fifth-graders at Westtown-Thornbury Elementary School, helping students focus on lessons while improving their balance and core strength, she said. The giant rubber spheres, also called stability balls, make the student work to stay balanced which increases blood flow, le...

Little Sisters With Big Hearts Use Origami to Fund Water for Africa

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 23:46:32 +0100
In the last 15 months Isabelle and Katherine Adams have made life immeasurably better for villagers they've never met, in lands far away from their own home in Dallas. The young sisters, ages 6 and 9, have raised a remarkable amount, $120,000 in total, for clean-water projects in Ethiopia and India, all through selling origami ornaments they create themselves, and by collecting matching funds for their cause....

Biotechnology Firm Run By Teens Wants to Use Mosquitoes to Carry Vaccines

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 14:44:44 +0100
Provita Pharmaceutical is working on a project (with funding from the Gates Foundation) to use mosquitoes to help carry vaccines against the West Nile Virus. The first goal: to genetically engineer mosquitoes so that they can produce and deliver a vaccine via their saliva. It’s a new twist on research being done elsewhere to breed sterile mosquitoes in malaria-infested areas. And, everyone on the 15-plus person Provita team, from research and development workers to finance officers, is under ...

Pit Bull Hailed Hero, Saves Family and Pets From Fire

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 16:54:34 +0100
A family of five lost everything in their Oklahoma home in a fire Tuesday but they survived and escaped with just minutes to spare thanks to an old pit bull named Baby. The dog would not stop barking and pouncing until the woman woke up to see the danger getting closer. Not only did Baby save the family, she went back into the house to gather up the other five dogs still inside, reportedly dragging one of them out by the neck....

US Makes Big Strides in Reducing Domestic Violence

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:13:41 +0100
The rate of partner-to-partner violence dropped by a stunning 64 percent between 1994 and 2010, a recent Justice Department report has found. The trend, almost unnoticed, stems from a broad shift in attitude toward domestic violence. Many in the field credit the public awareness campaigns, national legislation protecting victims, and subsequent training of police and prosecutors to recognize intimate partner violence as a crime, rather than as a private matter....

Marriage Proposal Video Gives Girlfriend Trip Down Memory Lane

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 16:10:32 +0100
For Valentine's Day, we wanted to share a video Kevin White made as a creative way to propose to his girlfriend. It took him just one day to complete the production. "We did a little bit the day before with her family, while Madi was at work, and luckily got her little brother to keep quiet about it.”...

Westminster's Best in Show: An Affenpinscher Named Banana Joe

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:55:13 +0100

An Affenpinscher named Banana Joe, took center stage winning Best in Show at the prestigious 137th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden, the first time an Affenpinscher has won Best in Show at Westminster since the breed's recognition in 1938.

10 Ways to Show Your Spouse Love and Make Yourself Happier Too

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:46:06 +0100
Chris Kline doesn't like to tell his wife of 17 years, Tara, that he loves her. He prefers to show her—by loading her favorite songs on her phone and warming up her car on cold mornings. While she was away on business recently, he surprised her by painting her home office in her favorite colors. Small selfless acts between spouses aren't just nice—they also are necessary, experts say....

Youth Robotics Club Helps Paralyzed Cat

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:59:28 +0100
Nine-month-old Flipper the kitten was born with a twisted spine that makes it impossible for him to stand up -- or walk about without dragging himself laboriously. But little Flipper’s life was changed forever by cat-lovers from a high school robotics club in Colorado. The team built a special kitty chariot for the partially paralyzed cat, who is now scampering around the animal shelter with ease -- and made him more adoptable too....

Kids Rewarded for Good Manners by Restaurant Staff

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:58:06 +0100
To Laura King, her three children were acting normal while enjoying dinner at an Italian restaurant in their hometown in Washington state. But staffers of the restaurant were so impressed with her children's table manners during their Feb. 1 dinner that they thanked her kids and gave the family of five free ice cream....

Birthday Boy Passes on Gifts, Raises Food and Cash for Shelter Dogs

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:56:42 +0100
One youngster will set plenty of tails wagging after asking his friends to donate to Cheshire Dogs Home to mark his birthday. Finlay Brooks of Padgate, who turned six on Tuesday, will be dogs’ best friend after telling his mum he did not need any more presents because he had got enough at Christmas. Mum Jenny Bate, of Kenilworth Drive, said: “We’re very proud of him and he’s been really excited seeing the donations total going up....

Three Pennsylvania Classmates Get Perfect SAT Scores

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 16:21:34 +0100
Three students from Montgomery County, Pa., accomplished something extremely rare -- they all scored a perfect score of 2400 on their SAT. And what's even more rare is that all three students are classmates at the same school. The Upper Dublin High School juniors dedicated years, studying for this one test....

Cat Born Without Leg Bones Gets Operation Thanks to Facebook Donors

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:35:02 +0100
Harvey, a 4-month-old kitten in Scotland born without bones in his front legs, is happy and healthy. But while his rare genetic condition could lead to spinal problems and other health issues later in life, the preventive surgery is expensive. Doctors, however, will now be able to go ahead and insert metal pins into Harvey’s legs thanks to a successful fundraising effort from cat lovers on Facebook....

Homecoming King Gives Crown to Boy With Genetic Condition

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:22:57 +0100
Three Tennessee homecoming king nominees made a unanimous and touching decision that no matter who won, they would give the crown to a beloved student who has Williams Syndrome, a neurological disorder that inhibits learning and speech. At the Unionville Community High School's basketball homecoming ceremony, the teens turned over the honor to junior Scotty Maloney....

Young Girl Hatches Rescue Plan to Save Family from Bankruptcy

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 16:57:11 +0100
Her parents were going bankrupt after her mom became completely disabled and needed full-time nursing home care. Ttheir daughter wasn't told they were going broke, but she knew -- and decided to something. What Shelby did was basically start farming -- at the age of 9. She got a loan from her grandma and bought chickens -- lots of chickens....

11-Year-Old Cancer Patient Lives Pop Star Dream

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:06:37 +0100
It was a star-studded night. After recording her new song at Rotation Records, Amy Hosmer left the studio. She was greeted by about 75 enthusiastic fans. She smiled shyly and thanked everyone for coming. Not what we’d expect from a rock star. But Amy isn’t a typical star. Amy has brain cancer....

Family Adopts 5 Peruvian Siblings After Receiving Mysterious Email

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:00:35 +0100
Scott and Lauren Sterling received an email message from Peru that tugged at their hearts. It said, "We need a mommy and daddy." Five individual irresistible pictures were also attached. The message was on behalf of five Peruvian children, ages 9 to 17, who became orphans when their parents passed away from tuberculosis. So, how did the children know about the Sterlings thousands of miles away in Blue Springs, Missouri?...

Briton Hailed a 'Hero' After Saving Wading Children From Shark

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:48:43 +0100
Paul Marshallsea, 62, was enjoying a barbecue with his family and friends when he heard cries of "shark". He sprinted to the shoreline and found the two-meter long dusky shark in shallow water close to where toddlers were paddling. The father-of-three grabbed the shark by the tail and dragged it out to deeper water....

Loyal Dog Attends Mass Every Day at Church of Deceased Owner

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 14:07:30 +0100
A heartbroken dog whose owner died two months ago is missing her so much he is attending services at the Italian church where her funeral was held patiently waiting for her to return. The seven-year-old German Shepherd had been her faithful companion after she adopted him, and would accompany her to church everyday and sit at her feet. "He waits patiently by the side of the altar and just sits there quietly. I didn't have the heart to throw him out," said the parish priest....

Teen's Scouting Project Far Exceeds the Numbers

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 13:33:28 +0100
The numbers have never worked out right for Garrett Becker. He was born four months early. His chance of living six months: 20%. Diagnosed at age 1 with cerebral palsy. But he blew past the numbers and now, at age 19 and a quadriplegic, Garrett has become a leader, working towared the coveted Eagle Scout level....

Incredible Journey for Lost Cat Who Walked 190 Miles Home

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 15:41:51 +0100
The last time Jacob and Bonnie Richter saw their 4-year-old tortoiseshell cat Holly, she bolted out of their motor home at the Daytona International Speedway on Nov. 4, apparently frightened by fireworks. For days, the distraught couple searched for Holly, putting up flyers and alerting rescue agencies before despondently heading home to West Palm Beach. Then, two months later the cat appeared, emaciated and weak, on the lawn of a neighbor just one mile away from her home....

5-year-old Canadian Empties Piggy Bank to Help Kenyan Baby, Inspires Others to Join

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:36:48 +0100
A baby in Kenya needed life-saving heart surgery, but it would cost $23,000 and the family couldn't afford it. Enter a 5-year old Canadian boy from Waterloo who heard the story and marched to his bedroom to empty his piggy bank. After seeing their boy Cameron's heartfelt gesture, the parents decided that maybe they could help him inspire friends, family and strangers to kick in the extra funds needed to reach the goal. So they set up a Facebook group, Help Cam Help Baby Brave, where the boy po...

First-Grader Wraps up a Book for Classmate Who Got No Christmas Presents

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 15:14:03 +0100

Two 7-year-old boys in south Milwaukee overheard another boy saying he received no gifts for Christmas.

"He didn't have a Christmas tree," was one of the boy's explanation for Santa not bringing anything.

After school the two talked about it and decided what they would do.

High School Boy Broadcasts Compliments for Students Having a Bad Day

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:30:14 +0100
To combat bullying and to simply cheer up students at his high school, Jeremiah Anthony set up a Twitter Account a year and a half ago that posts compliments about kids and teachers. His Twitter feed is called WestHighBros. "We just send compliments to people who we think are feeling bad a certain day."...

9-Year-old Applies to Be Museum Curator (w/ Video)

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 15:05:08 +0100
A lot of kids are into dinosaurs, but few are as into dinosaurs as 9-year-old Eli Navant. He knows so much that he could write a book about dinosaurs -- in fact, he already has written a book. One of Eli's heroes was the head curator at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science who recently left his position. The boy, whose parents constantly encouraged his adventures with science, jumped on the chance to apply for the job....

12-Year-old Boys Save Drowning Fisherman in New Zealand

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 17:50:55 +0100
It was hope in the form of a 12-year-old boy that saved Vincent Shao from sinking beneath the waves and drowning at Waihi Beach on Saturday. "I thought I was going to die," the 32-year-old Auckland resident said after he lost his footing in waist-deep water while checking crab pots. Although he was a good swimmer, Shao succumbed to a rip current as he tried swimming against the tide toward shore....

12-Year-Old Girl Saves Up, Donates Doggie Treadmill to Shelter

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 17:14:52 +0100
Kam Gottlieb of Wilmette, Illinois was inspired by photographs of charity work a friend's mom did in Haiti so she decided to do some good work of her own. She loves animals but didn't want to simply walk dogs at the local shelter, especially because of the winter temperatures near Chicago. But she was concerned about the animals getting enough exercise. Her mother mentioned the rising popularity of dog treadmills. She instantly knew it could be her passion to raise money to buy treadmills for th...

High School Student Goes From Team Mascot to Star Quarterback

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 20:01:42 +0100
A teen who had not played football since he was ten years old went from wearing a costume as his high school team mascot to playing on the field as its star quarterback. Just two months ago, Trent Bauer, a junior at Paul Laurence Dunbar High, watched his Bulldogs team get beaten badly. After the game he asked the coach if he could try out as a player....

Girl's Idea to Bring Joy Jars to Sick Kids (w/ video)

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 18:13:31 +0100
Jessica Rees was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 11. When she saw other children having to stay in the hospital, she wanted to help "make them happier, because I know they're going through a lot," she said. So she started making JoyJars -- containers full of toys, stickers, crayons, anything that might brighten a child's day....

Blind Band Student to March in Rose Parade

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 17:32:00 +0100
A local marching band will have two musicians in the Tournament of Roses Parade Tuesday. Mi So Kwak will play the flute for the Bands of America Honor Band, while high school instructor Casey Bindle marches alongside her. Kwak appreciates Bindle lending a guiding hand. It's tough enough for anyone to march the entire 5.5-mile parade route. Especially for Kwak, who is blind....

UPDATE: Hero Dog Who Lost Snout in Rescue Now Has Beaten Cancer

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:47:50 +0100
A veterinarian at UC Davis says a dog from the Philippines who became an international hero after sacrificing her snout to save two young girls may have beaten cancer. Veterinarian Gina Davis tells the San Francisco Chronicle the dog, named Kabang, appears to have beaten the cancer she was suffering from....

Teens Come Running to Shovel Snow When Elderly Neighbor was Laboring

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 15:20:58 +0100
Tracy Lynn DelValle of Gardner, Massachusetts posted a story and photo on Facebook proving that (in her words), "Not all kids nowadays are thoughtless." Tracy's neighbor, who is aging in her 60's, was attempting to shovel the snow around her car in the driveway yesterday. "She looked pale, and after each shovelful, she put her head down and rested for a few minutes," wrote Tracy, who was ill, and unable to assist....

An Amazing Act of Friendship Helps Blind Girl Drive

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 15:17:53 +0100
With so much darkness in the news lately, it's amazing how one simple idea could bring so much light to so many lives. That's what happened last weekend in Snohomish, when over 100 people came together to make a dream reality for their blind friend. For the legally-blind teen, her dream was to drive a car just once....