A boy in Victoria, B.C., celebrated his 11th birthday this weekend by dishing out chicken curry and rice pilaf to hundreds of people in need.
“I always get parties but so many other people don’t get as much,” Armaan Sohi told CBC News.
Sohi said he was inspired by the memory of his older sister, Subha, who died last year at age 20 and who always wanted to do something like this.
(READ the story from CBC)
Some Walmart shoppers got more than they bargained for when Beyoncé turned up for a surprise visit.
The superstar stopped by a Tewksbury, Mass., Walmart on Friday night, where she greeted fans and did a little holiday shopping.
Best of all, Queen Bey got on the store’s loudspeaker and offered to pay the first $50 of every customer’s holiday shopping.
(READ the story from USA Today)
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A group of Central Kentucky men never thought it would get this big. Starting with a notion to raise a few thousand dollars to buy Christmas presents for needy kids in their area, the Edmonson County friends in nine years have bought $270,000 worth of holiday happiness for others.
They call themselves Santa’s Secret Hands and they raise money all year to buy the gifts that have touched the lives of 2000 children.
“It’s not a formal organization, it’s just guys that have full time jobs, and they do this in their extra time, in their off time, and they’re doing all the work.”
(WATCH the video below or READ the story at WBKO.com)
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday struck down provisions of the state’s Oil and Gas Act that stripped municipalities of the power to determine where natural gas drilling activity could occur within their boundaries.
The long-awaited decision is a blow to a 2012 law promoted by Gov. Corbett and the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry as a means to create a uniform statewide standard for gas development.
By a 4-2 vote, the court ruled that taking away the right of localities to limit fracking is unconstitutional.
“With this ruling, municipal governments will once again have the ability to determine when and where fracking occurs in their locality,” said a local environmental group. “This is crucial for protecting public health, our environment and our communities.”
(READ the story in Phily.com)
The success of a 10-year initiative to end long-term homelessness could mean the closure of homeless shelters in Utah.
The state has reduced its rate of chronic homelessness by 69 percent since 2006, moving 2000 people off the street and into apartments.
Last winter, there were excess beds available each night in a Salt Lake City area emergency shelter, which officials attribute to the success of the rehousing program that places homeless families and individuals into permanent supportive housing.
Once they settle into housing, they can begin work on the issues that have contributed to their homelessness, according to the Deseret News.
(READ the story in The Independent)
[Editor Updated the link to replace with more recent article.]
An Iraqi policeman has been hailed a hero after throwing his arms around a suicide bomber to shield others from the blast.
The bomber struck northeast of Baghdad, killing five people and wounding 10 who were on a Shia pilgrimage, police said.
But the toll would almost certainly have been higher if not for 34-year-old Ayyub Khalaf.
“His name will be an eternal symbol because he saved the lives of dozens of innocents,” said Khalaf’s friend.
(READ the story in the Daily Mail)
A new device has been launched that can transform almost any bicycle into an electric-hybrid vehicle.
The Copenhagen Wheel, named for the cycling-rich city, is a self-contained unit that replaces the rear hub of a bicycle wheel.
It stores energy, which can later be released if a cyclist needs help going up a hill.
(WATCH the video below from the BBC)
A hero guide dog and his blind owner who survived being run over by a New York City subway train drew enough private donations on Wednesday to keep the two together despite the dog’s impending retirement. (See original story here.)
“The spirit of giving, of Christmas, and all of that — it exists here,” Williams said, fighting back tears.
(READ the story in the Toronto Star)
Think kids today are spoiled? That they only care about themselves?
CNN Hero Yash Gupta says that’s far from the truth.
“I think there’s a misconception with our generation,” said Gupta, 17. “Many of my friends are doing things to improve their communities.
“Kids are passionate and can make a difference. It’s just a matter of finding out what you care about and focusing on that.”
For Gupta, it’s helping children see clearer. Since 2011, he has given out more than 9,500 pairs of donated eyeglasses through his nonprofit, Sight Learning.
(WATCH the video below and READ about all 3 young world changers at CNN)
A Minnesota high school senior is a picture of the holiday season of giving, donating her entire paycheck to buy Christmas gifts for more than 50 homeless at the local shelter.
Jessica Peterson, 17, doesn’t earn much working at Taco Bell, but she wanted to do something special for those less fortunate. She spent more than $500 to purchase pants, socks and snacks for 58 people at the Stepping Stone homeless shelter in Anoka County.
Peterson and her family will deliver the gifts in person on Christmas Eve.
(READ the article in CBS News)
James Gray has been “completely overwhelmed” by the huge response to his call for somebody to spend Christmas with after spending the past nine years alone.
The 85-year-old turned to The Irish Post in desperation earlier this month, placing an advert in the hope of finding someone to spend December 25 with.
Since his story appeared, the retired butler has been inundated with offers from prospective companions, as well as greeting cards.
The holidays are mostly a joyful time for kids and adults alike.
They are also a time when parents hope their kids can be charitable and grateful rather than singularly focused on getting presents.
Kids absorb so much of what we do, that we have a huge opportunity to help them become kind and caring people. This blog post has 17 fantastic ideas to help us do that.
(READ the article in BradAronson.com)
While everyone knows the best part of a Secret Santa gift exchange is finding out the identity of the gift giver, a Reddit user participating in this year’s online Secret Santa gift giving got the surprise of her life during the big reveal.
The user, identified only as Rachel, posted a list of gifts she hoped to get from her Reddit Secret Santa – makeup, nail polish, “glittery things” and an iPad. But that’s not what she got from Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
It turns out, all of the gifts were perfectly tailored to her interests.
(READ the story from ABC News)
More than 100 musicians, painters and performers took part this year in the second annual “O+” Festival in Kingston, New York.
Named for the blood type, the festival allows artists to barter their works and performances for health care in the form of back adjustments, blood work, dental fillings and eye exams.
Kingston dentist Thomas Cingel initially came up with the idea as a way to lure artists upstate. Dr. Cingel settled in the Hudson Valley for its natural beauty, yet missed the big city’s music scene.
When Shirley Grandey, 62, was sweeping up all the pine needles, branches and dirt at the end of her long work day, she never expected to see a cherished diamond ring shining like a star among the pile of debris.
She saw the intertwined names in the design and knew it must be sentimental. She decided she had to find the owner.
Her efforts have made one mother’s Christmas very merry, indeed — all thanks to the honesty and determination of a complete stranger who went out of her way to make someone’s day.
(WATCH the video or READ the story from Yahoo News)
PETA, the animal-rights organization, has donated more than 100 fur coats — and dozens of leather jackets, wool scarves and angora sweaters — to needy residents at a Detroit homeless shelter earlier this week.
“We can’t bring these animals back to life… but we can try to use these coats for an ethical purpose now,” the group’s spokesperson told TODAY.com.
Every year, the organization receives hundreds of furs from people who no longer want them, she said.
(READ the story from TODAY)
A kindergarten student at a holiday concert enthusiastically sang the songs with her classmates, but also used sign language and animated facial expressions to help her deaf parents in the audience enjoy the show.
This cutie has earned six million hits on YouTube in the nine days since it was posted.
WATCH the video below…
A heroic guide dog named Orlando is getting praise for saving his owner, a blind man named Cecil Williams, who fell onto the subway tracks in New York, and barking for help, which ultimately saved the man’s life.
The clever Orlando is set to retire — and Williams’ insurance will only pay for an actively working dog, so people are now tweeting the story and donating money to keep his hero by his side, along with a new service dog.
General Motors announced plans to invest $1.2 billion in new equipment and expansions at five Midwest factories. GM’s investment, mostly in three Michigan plants, will retain or add about 1,000 jobs, many of which are in the company’s Flint hometown.
The expansion plans were announced Monday, the same day a new study was released, compiled by the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor, that estimated the rescue of GM and Chrysler saved 2.6 million jobs in 2009 and 1.5 million in 2010.
James Barber’s home goes up for auction today, but a “white knight” has rescued the 77-year-old from homelessness.
An anonymous Christchurch businessman was so taken by Barber’s plight that he is offering to buy him a house “to live out his days in peace”.
“I didn’t know there were people like this still about,” Barber said.
“Miracles do happen, there is no doubt about it.”
(READ the story from New Zealand’s Stuff)
