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British Teen Posts Uplifting Notes on Bridge and ‘Helps Save Six Lives’

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Good News Network
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An 18-year-old girl’s ingenious idea to attach messages onto a bridge in Sunderland is inspiring those in despair to think twice before jumping.

Paige Hunter wrote more than 40 heartfelt notes and tied them to the railings of the Wearmouth Bridge hoping to provide comfort at a time when it is needed most.

The encouraging words penned by the East Durham College student included: ‘Even though things are difficult, your life matters; you’re a shining light in a dark world, so just hold on’.

Northumbria Police presented her with a framed commendation certificate this week, with Chief Superintendent Sarah Pitt explaining, “We thought it was important to applaud the work Paige has been doing and the help she has given those in Sunderland who are going through a mental health crisis.”

RELATED: Suicide Rates at Japanese Train Stations Have Plummeted Thanks to Simple Solution

“Paige has shown an incredible understanding of vulnerable people in need of support, and this is an innovative way to reach out to those in a dark place. She should be very proud of herself.”

By Northumbria Police – Sign includes hotline phone number

After receiving the commendation, the sales assistant, who works at Poundworld, said: “I wasn’t doing this for an award; it was just something that I wanted to do.”

“It’s just amazing, the response it has had. I’ve been told it’s already helped save six lives.”

ALSO: World’s First ‘Mental Health Ambulance’ is Helping Hundreds of People in Sweden

A team set up in 2013 across six local jurisdictions already sends dedicated officers and mental health nurses to respond to individuals in crisis who have come into contact with the police, ensuring they receive mental health support and an assessment of their needs at an early stage.

She includes a phone number on her signs for a group called Samaritans that offers free support to anyone in the UK who is in emotional distress: 116 123

MULTIPLY the GOOD by Sharing this Great Idea!

Starbucks to Open Their First Ever American Sign Language Store

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Good News Network
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Starbucks has just announced that they will be opening their first American Signing Store that specifically accommodates and welcomes deaf workers and customers.

Not only that, the store, which is set to open in Washington D.C. in October, will be entirely run by employees who are fluent in American Sign Language (ASL), whether they be deaf, hard-of-hearing, or an ally.

According to a press release from the store, the café will be designed with deaf-friendly aspects, such as an open environment for communication and low glare reflective surfaces. Visual communication options will be available for ordering and receiving beverages at the hand-off counter. Additionally, artwork and merchandise, including a custom mug, designed by deaf artists

“The National Association of the Deaf applauds Starbucks for opening a Signing Store that employs feaf and hard-of-hearing people,” said Howard A. Rosenblum, CEO of the National Association of the Deaf. “Starbucks has taken an innovative approach to incorporating deaf culture that will increase employment opportunities as well as accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people, while at the same time educating and enlightening society.”

RELATED: Mom Develops New App That Alerts Deaf Parents to When and Why Their Babies Are Crying

Though this is the first deaf-friendly Starbucks store in America, the company’s first ever Signing Store in the world opened up in Malaysia back in 2016.

“This is a historic moment in Starbucks ongoing journey to connect with the Deaf and hard of hearing community, hire and engage Deaf and hard of hearing partners, and continue to find ways to be more inclusive, accessible and welcoming to all,” said Rossann Williams, Starbucks executive vice president of U.S. Retail.

Help Your Friends Hear About The Good News: Share To Social Media

Thanks to Police Department’s ‘Pugshot’ of Lost Dog, Owner Pays Bail in Cookies

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Good News Network
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Getting a mugshot is no laughing matter—unless it helps a canine on the run.

Bean the pug is going viral on social media after the Cape May Police Department of New Jersey found her wandering around someone’s backyard earlier this week.

WATCH: Locked Out of House, Watch Woman’s Gleeful Reaction to Clever Pup Opening the Door

After taking Bean into custody, the cops tried to get her to hop into the back of their cruiser, but they told NJ.com that “her short little legs couldn’t make it into the car, so I had to lift her up.”

They took the crooked canine back to the safety of the station and had Bean pose for a “pugshot.” The officers then posted it to their social media page in hopes that the owner would see it and ‘bail out’ the pug.

“This is what happens when you run away from home,” wrote the department. “This guy was captured sneaking through yards on the 1300 block on New Jersey Avenue.”

Sources only guess that Bean was too tough for the good cop–bad cop interrogation routine, although judging by her face, she didn’t mind the ‘incarceration’ too much.

WATCH: Guy Takes Advantage of Toys ‘R’ Us Closing Sale to Make Giant Ball Pit For His Dog in His Hallway

Finally, after the original “pugshot” was shared over 10,000 times, it eventually caught the eye of Bean’s owner, Hadley Hubbard.

As a means of repaying the officers for taking care of the furry felon, Bean’s owners reportedly paid her bail in cookies.

“Thank you CMPD from Bean the pug‘s family for taking such good care of her,” Hubbard wrote. “She is sound asleep after an exciting afternoon on the run.”

Share This Pawesomely Hilarious Pugmug With Your Friends – Photos by Cape May Police Department

Couple Fights Lawsuit Until Judge Rules They Can Keep Their “Starry Night” Home

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Good News Network
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This family was facing thousands of dollars in fines from the city after they turned their home into a masterpiece.

Lubomir Jastrzebski and his wife Nancy Nemhauser of Mount Dora, Florida created a mural on the front of their home that resembled Vincent Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” painting. The gorgeous house drew attention from tourists and social media until it eventually captured the attention of the city.

The local legislature ordered the couple to cover up the painting because it could be considered “graffiti”. When they expanded the mural to include the entire front of their house, the city told them that it was too distracting for passing drivers and dealt the family a fine of $100 per day until they took it down.

The couple fought back, refusing to pay the fines and filing a lawsuit against the city claiming that the fines were a violation of their freedom of expression.

WATCH: Diver Performs Expressive 6-Minute Dance Underwater in One Breath

It wasn’t just freedom of expression they fought for, either – Jastrzebski and Nemhauser’s 25-year-old son has autism, and by making their home an obvious and identifiable landmark, the couple hoped it would help their son find his way home if he ever got lost.

Finally, after five months of legal struggle and roughly $10,000 in unpaid fines, a federal judge ruled that the couple could keep the mural.

LOOK: Seamstress Uses Expert Mending Skills to Repair Monarch’s Wing and Save Its Life

As part of the city’s settlement with the family, the mayor will issue a formal apology, the couple will be paid $15,000 to cover their legal fees, and the legislature will be rewriting their city ordinance codes to accommodate such freedoms.

“It’s a big day for the arts,” Richard Barrenechea, the artist who painted the mural, told The Associated Press. “It’s a big day for Mount Dora, and a big day for freedom.”

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure to Share The Gorgeous News With Your Friends – Photo by Associated Press via Daily Mail Youtube

“I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.” – S. E. Hinton (who turns 70 today)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.” – S. E. Hinton (who turns 70 today)

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Couple Takes It Upon Themselves to Turn Ocean Trash into Prosthetic Limbs for Kids That Cost Only $45

By
McKinley Corbley
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Laura and Chris Moriarity have had no expertise in ocean pollution or making prosthetic limbs—but they passionately believed they could tackle both issues with one solution.

Chris and Laura are the founders of the Million Waves Project, a charity that recycles ocean plastic into 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for needy people around the world.

38-year-old Chris was struck with inspiration for the project one night back in April. Two weeks later, he and his wife had the project up and running.

RELATED: People Have Passively Planted Over 30 Million Trees Simply by Surfing the Web

Currently, the couple prepares the plastic by cutting it up by hand and feeding it into a paper shredder, and then a 3D-printer. After that, they use an app to connect with people who need prosthetics so they can design the gadget specifically to their measurements.

The cheap materials means that each prosthetic costs roughly $45, which the Moriaritys fund through donations, sponsorships, and selling keychains on the charity’s website.

Since launching the initiative, they have donated 18 limbs to disabled individuals.

MORE: Researchers Have Finally Created Simple Eco-Friendly Machine That Recycles Used Diapers

“The Million Waves Project brings together two unacceptable global situations and offers a practical and sustainable solution,” says the nonprofit’s website.

Chris and Laura are now working on obtaining a commercial-sized shredder so they can multiply their production ten-fold.

(WATCH the video below)

Recycle The Good News By Sharing It With Your Friends – Photo via Q13 Fox video

Amusing Tale of Grandma Defeating Rabid Bobcat With Her Bare Hands is ‘the Kind of Story We Need Right Now’

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Good News Network
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This larger-than-life tale of a warrior grandmother defending herself against a rabid bobcat is not just an inspirational goldmine – it’s also hilarious.

46-year-old DeDe Phillips was standing in the driveway of her Hart County home in Georgia when she saw a mangy bobcat approaching her.

Sensing that it was rabid, Phillips took a determined stance to defend herself—while not waking her grandchild sleeping inside.

She succeeded quite spectacularly.

(WATCH Seth Myers’s hilarious retelling of the story below) –Editor’s note: video contains mild cursing that is bleeped out.

Pounce on Your Friends With Laughter… Share the clip.

Cyclist Carries Injured Stray Dog to Safety On His Back, Then Bumps into a Stranger Who Instantly Adopts it

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Good News Network
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Photo by Jarrett Little

A puppy that suffered an unfortunate injury has been given a lucky break, thanks to some guys on their mountain bikes who happened to find it in the woods.

Jarrett Little and a few other cyclists were riding through a forested area in Columbus, Georgia when they stopped to take a break. As they recuperated, a dog limped out of the woods.

Jarrett suspects that the dog had been hit by a car because it was malnourished, and it was sporting road rash and a broken leg. After he and his friends gave the dog some food and water, they puzzled over how to help the dog.

Since they were in the woods, they couldn’t get a car in to escort the canine to safety, yet they didn’t want to leave it alone in the forest either. Jarrett then took it upon himself to hoist the dog onto his back and ride the 7 miles back to town.

RELATED: JetBlue Crew Praised for Saving Dog’s Life When It Was Struggling to Breathe on Plane

They stopped at a local bike shop and wanted to get the dog more food and water. Fortunately, Andrea Shaw was in the store.

Andrea, who coincidentally was in Georgia for work purposes, experienced an instant connection with the dog. The woman was so taken with him, she immediately adopted him, paid for his medical bills, and even found a local organization that could comfortably transport the pup to her horse farm in Maine.

In light of his astounding story, she decided to name him “Columbo” after the town where Jarrett found him.

LOOK: Heroic Puppy Saves Owner by Jumping in Front of Rattlesnake

Columbo’s rescue garnered so much media attention, Shaw created a Facebook page for him called “Adventures of Columbo”. She now uses the page to report on his recovery process and budding new relationships with the other animals on her farm.

The cyclist is delighted by Columbo’s progress, and calls his lucky encounter with Shaw pure fate.

“Had I been five mins earlier or five mins later, we wouldn’t have crossed paths with her,” the cyclist told CBS News. “It’s pretty cool how far he’s come.”

Be Sure And Share The Pawesome Rescue Story With Your Friends – Photo by Jarrett Little

Man Runs Backwards Through Ultra Marathons So He Can Help the Future of Honeybees

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Good News Network
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Running ultra marathons is impressive enough; but running backwards through one is astounding – and that’s exactly what Farai Chinomwe did for the sake of honeybees.

The South African beekeeper first discovered his knack for running backwards while returning home from a bee removal and his car broke down—with a crateful of anxious pollinators in the back seat.

As Chinomwe pushed his car, he found that he had more strength when he turned around and pushed the vehicle backwards.

From that point forward, he realized that his unique penchant for running backwards might be a way to coax people into think about honeybees.

RELATED: State is Boosting Bee Populations By Giving Free Hives and Equipment to Beekeepers

Chinomwe has since run dozens of ultra marathons all while facing the wrong way – and for the record, an ultra marathon is any marathon that is longer than the typical 26-mile distance (42 kilometers).

His peculiar habit has proved surprisingly effective in drawing awareness to the plight of honeybees and how people can help. Chinomwe, who runs a bee removal service called Blessed Bee Africa, uses the attention to educate youngsters on beekeeping and how they can nourish local pollinator populations.

(WATCH the video below)

Be Sure And Share The Buzz With Your Friends – Photo by Beautiful News South Africa

“I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one. And I believe it could be; Someday it’s going to come.” – Cat Stevens (on his 70th birthday)

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Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “I’ve been smiling lately, dreaming about the world as one. And I believe it could be; Someday it’s going to come.” – Cat Stevens, Peace Train (on his 70th birthday)

Image: by Alice Popkorn, CC

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

How to Love Your Melting Pot Heritage and Embrace the Power of Diversity

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lindsaywigo
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The Lesson: Having a diverse background is not something that should hold you back in today’s society – in fact, it’s an advantage that should propel you forward. Rebeca Hwang talks about the importance and significance of having a diverse background and all of the benefits that it brings to your personal identity.

Notable Excerpt: “Now, today my identity quest is no longer to find my tribe. It’s more about allowing myself to embrace all of the possible permutations of myself and cultivating diversity within me and not just around me. My boys now are three years and five months old today, and they were already born with three nationalities and four languages. I should mention now that my husband is actually from Denmark – just in case I don’t have enough culture shocks in my life, I decided to marry a Danish guy.”

The Guest: Rebeca Hwang is a co-founder and managing director of Rivet Ventures, which is a company that invests in solutions for women and empowers their choices.

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below – or read the transcript here)

Good Advice? SHARE It – Or Check Out More On Our Good Talks Page…

Man is Determined to Thank Grieving Homeless ‘Angel’ Who Cared for His Lost Dog

By
McKinley Corbley
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Rick Darge was frantic over the disappearance of his dog Maya – so when a homeless “angel” ensured the pup’s safe return, Darge became determined to thank him properly.

Mel, who is a 9-month-old rat terrier mix, ran away from Darge’s office in East Hollywood, California earlier this month, and it didn’t take long for her to make some friends amongst some homeless men named James and Andy.

The two men have been living out James’s car for the last few months; and in addition to enduring the woes of homelessness, James has been heartbroken over the recent death of his own canine companion.

So when Andy found Maya wandering the city streets, he decided to try and cheer his friend by presenting the dog as a gift.

RELATED: Businessman is So Moved By Homeless Man’s Story, He Offers Him a Job On the Spot

“This man loves dogs and as soon as he got Maya, he fell in love,” says Darge. “[But] after a few hours, James pulled Maya’s harness off and noticed her dog tag with her name and my number on it.

“He said that once he saw that she belonged to someone, he was devastated and knew what I was going through.”

Since James didn’t have a cell phone, he had to wait until the next day to call Darge and tell him that the pup was in good hands. They coordinated a meetup, and true to his word, James brought Maya back to Darge in perfect health.

MORE: Homeless Are Getting Six-Figure Jobs in Poor Neighborhood Overrun by Tech Companies

“One thing that stuck out for me the most is when my Mom and I were screaming for joy while holding Maya, James’s buddy Andy kept saying to him, ‘Look at what you did, James. Look at their faces, man. You did this.’

“While Andy is saying this, I see a proud James, tears in his eyes, soaking up this moment of love. I saw a man who was at a crossroads in life. This was a redemption day for him to do the right thing. To be the hero. I felt it. He felt it. We all felt it. It was so powerful of a moment.”

Darge consistently tried to give James $200 for his trouble. Even though he needed the money, he kept turning it down until Darge firmly said that he wouldn’t take no for an answer.

CHECK OUT: After Denver Hired Homeless People to Perform Day Labor For the City, More Than 100 Landed Regular Jobs

“James started to cry,” says Darge. “He needed the money but didn’t want to make it about that. He was so grateful.”

But $200 wasn’t enough for Darge – so he created a GoFundMe page to raise money for the compassionate rough sleeper. Since he created the campaign ten days ago, it has raised over $5,000.

“I can’t fully explain what I’m feeling right now through words,” Darge wrote in the description. “All I must say is that my faith in people just got a whole lot better. I often find that those who have nothing in this world often have the most to give. Lessons were learned today for everyone. And the biggest lesson for me was that you can’t put a price on a good heart.”

Share This Sweet Story Of Compassion With Your Friends – Photo by Rick Darge

New Study Says That Expressing and Receiving Appreciation is a Lot Better for Us Than We Think

By
McKinley Corbley
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Have you ever been too shy to express gratitude towards someone? Or you’ve felt too awkward to phrase your appreciation for something? Well, this new study says that you should try not to worry about it so much.

A pair of researchers have published the results of a series of trials in which they studied how people gave and received letters of gratitude. What they found was that expressing and receiving appreciation increased well-being for both parties – but people’s self-consciousness also made them less likely to express their appreciation in the first place.

In the experiments, the researchers asked hundreds of participants to write an email to someone close to them expressing their appreciation for the relationship and naming a specific example of how that person bettered their lives. The writers were then asked to predict the recipient’s possible reactions to the letter.

Across all races, gender, and age, the writers consistently underestimated the positive impact that the email would have on the recipient. They also assumed that the recipient would feel more awkward and uncomfortable over the letters than they actually were. Contrary to the writer’s belief, the letter recipients were consistently more appreciative, warm, surprised, and understanding to the emails than the writers predicted them to be.

RELATED: How to Follow Negative News Without Getting Depressed

“Expected awkwardness and mood were both correlated with participants’ willingness to express gratitude,” says the study results, which were published in the journal Psychological Science.

“Wise decisions are guided by an accurate assessment of the expected value of action. Underestimating the value of prosocial actions, such as expressing gratitude, may keep people from engaging in behavior that would maximize their own—and others’—well-being.”

So next time you’re feeling hesitant about expressing your appreciation for your friends, family, and relationships, just remember that it will most likely go a lot better than you think.

Share This Inspiring Article Of Appreciation With Your Friends – Photo by

When Cop With Cancer Refuses to Stop Working, Dozens of City Workers Donate Their Sick Days

By
McKinley Corbley
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Editor’s Note: this town was previously featured on GNN as one of the finalists for the Top 10 Nicest Places in America competition from Reader’s Digest.

Cancer is not going to keep this dedicated police officer from doing the job he loves – and his community is not about to let his job keep him from getting cancer treatments, either.

Chris Kudla was diagnosed with a rare form of stage four kidney cancer back in November 2017, the day before his 46th birthday.

It was also eight months after he had started working for the Riverside Police Department in Illinois.

Despite having to attend doctor’s appointments and chemotherapy sessions twice a month, Kudla told his police chief that he did not want to stop working – and the chief told him that they would try to make it work.

RELATED: Farmers Stay Silent During Auction So Young Man Can Win the Bid on His Long-Lost Family Farm

The primary problem was that Kudla had not worked at the police department long enough to accumulate enough sick days for his treatment. So as a means of helping their police brother, the other officers at the department donated all of their sick days to Kudla.

Then, municipality workers, local civil servants, and city staff members all joined together in donating their sick days to Kudla.

To date, he has received roughly 6 months worth of sick days.

MORE: After Tweeting About ‘Worst’ Sales Day, Independent Bookseller is Overwhelmed with Support

Additionally, the police department started raising money to support Kudla’s family through a GoFundMe campaign. Over the course of seven months, it has raised $41,000.

“Everybody without hesitation stepped up to help out,” Kudla told CBS News. “Sometimes when you start to lose faith in humanity and you think that this world’s gone down the wrong path and there ain’t no coming back, something like this happens.”

(WATCH the interview below or our international viewers can watch the video on the CBS News website)

Share The Inspiring Community Story With Your Friends – Photo by Riverside Police Department

This Jolly King Has Lived in His Sandcastle for the Last 22 Years

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Good News Network
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Who needs a house when you can have a castle?

Marcio Matolias, also known as “King Marcio”, has lived in an elaborate sandcastle of his own creation for the last 22 years.

His castle is located on the gorgeous beaches of Rio de Janiero, Brazil. Due to the nature of his home, he lives rent-free – which is handy, considering the city’s average price of rent is higher than the average income.

Marcio makes money by selling books from inside his sandcastle and accepting donations from tourists who take pictures of his home. When he’s not working on his sandy abode, he says he enjoys playing beach golf and reading.

WATCH: Man Brings Telescope to the Street and Invites People to Look at the Moon –Their Reactions Will Bring You to Tears

Marcio cooks his food using a simple portable stove and he pays to take showers at the firehouse across the street. Though the weather will often tear down his sandcastle, he says that he enjoys the temporary nature of his home because it keeps him from being too possessive or materialistic.

The Brazilian man says that he dreams about one day owning his own artist’s studio, but for now, he’s content to continue being king of his little castle.

(WATCH the video below)

Build Some Positivity With Your Friends And Share This Cool Story – Photo by AFP TV

Quick-Thinking Gas Station Cashier Saves Kidnapping Victim by Locking Her in the Store’s Bathroom

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Savannah Pritchett has quite likely saved a woman’s life after she made several split second decisions that led to the arrest of four kidnappers.

Pritchett, who works as a cashier at a gas station in Waterford, California, was working an afternoon shift last Wednesday when a woman came into the store with a chilling plea.

The woman grabbed Pritchett’s wrist and asked for help, saying that she had been kidnapped by four men, two of whom were armed with guns.

Thinking on her feet, Pritchett locked the front door of the store, took the woman into the bathroom, handed her her cell phone and told her to call the police. She then locked the woman in the bathroom, and as she walked back to the front of the store, she saw the kidnappers trying to open the door.

RELATED: Train Passenger Uses a Twitter Post to Help Rescue 26 Girls From Traffickers

Pritchett unlocked the front door, told the kidnappers that the woman was in the bathroom, and pretended like everything was normal.

“I knew that if I left the door locked, they would have caught on to something and probably took off. So I went back up there, and I unlocked the door. They seriously had no idea that I knew anything,” Pritchett told KFSN.

Minutes later, law enforcement burst into the store and took two of the kidnappers into captivity. According to reports, two other juveniles were later arrested in correlation to the kidnapping. The four delinquents are believed to have ties to gang activity and other recent crimes in the area.

LOOK: Three Young Men Become Heroes After Saving Blind Man Who Fell on Subway Tracks

Police officials are calling Pritchett a hero for her quick thinking – but the cashier says that she is simply grateful to help a stranger in need.

“I’m very thankful that I got to help that girl and I am very thankful that she’s home safe with her family and now I’m happy that they got those guys off the street,” Pritchett told ABC News.

Share This Inspiring Story Of Heroism With Your Friends

“On the human chessboard, all moves are possible.” – Miriam Schiff (Improve your relationships on International Chess Day!)

By
Good News Network
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Quote of the Day: “On the human chessboard, all moves are possible.” – Miriam Schiff (Improve your relationships on International Chess Day!)

With a new inspirational quote every day, atop the perfect photo—collected and archived on our Quotes page—why not bookmark GNN.org for a daily uplift?

Former Blue Man Retells How a Random Audience Member Restored His Love of the Show

By
Sam Levitz
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The Lesson: Sometimes even the most enjoyable things in life can become routine. When this happens, we need a new challenge that inspires us. This can take shape in many forms – especially when our hearts are open to learning about each other’s differences. In this inspiring story, John Grady’s interaction with a stranger connects an entire audience together through the power of overcoming what seems at first like an impossible task, but soon becomes an exercise in adaption, compassion, and inclusion.

Notable Excerpt: “And that thing, that thing that is starting to happen that can only happen on a live performance where the event on stage is starting to mirror what’s happening with the audience’s experience and it exists somewhere in between and creates this bio feedback loop of event and experience and experience and event…and now we’re with the audience and they are with us.”

The Speaker: Actor and writer, John Grady, made his off-Broadway debut with the Blue Man Group. In addition to performing with the group for over 8 years, Grady is also a multiple story slam winner at the Moth. His stories have aired on KCRW, CBC Radio, and on the Moth Radio Hour on NPR.

Podcast: The Moth Radio Hour airs on more than 460 radio stations around the world. Episodes are also available for free on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, and on their website.

(LISTEN to the inspiring talk below)

The Moth Mainstage, NYC from John Grady on Vimeo.

Good Advice? SHARE It – Or Check Out More On Our Good Talks Page…

In Recounting Cave Rescue, Thai Boys Say They Now Want to Be Navy Seals When They Grow Up

By
McKinley Corbley
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In their first press conference since their dramatic rescue last week, the 12 Thai soccer players and their coach appeared before international journalists to recount their grueling experiences of being trapped inside the cave system for 18 days.

The Wild Boards soccer team had been trapped in the tunnel complex for 9 days before they were finally found by Navy SEALs. The boys say that they had been trying to use rocks to dig themselves out of the cave when they heard the divers approaching. Shocked by the appearance of the rescuers, they were even more surprised to hear a British diver speaking English, rather than Thai.

The Brit asked the team asked how many of them were present. Thankfully, one of the boys could speak English and he said there were thirteen of them in total. Relieved, the diver simply said “Brilliant.”

The Seals then kept the boys company for the following eight days it took for them all to be rescued. They ate together, slept together, and played checkers with the youngsters to keep them mentally stimulated. One Seal even spent his time in the cave wearing only his underwear and a piece of foil so the boys could use his clothes to keep warm.

WATCH: School Bus Driver is Being Hailed For Calmly Handling Collision With Semitrailer

Even though they all exhibited clear devotion to their adult heroes, a boy said that one of the Seals was “like my dad”, says the The Guardian. On top of that, four of the youngsters – and the 25-year-old coach – say that they now want to be Navy Seals when they grow up.

The boys will also be training as novices in Buddhist monkhood as a means of honoring Saman Kunan, the Seal who passed away in the cave system during the rescue process. According to the news outlet, they will be dedicating their training merits to his memory, which is the highest honor in Buddhism.

The boys have been declared to be in good health, and they seemed in positive spirits during the press conference, although psychiatrists have advised them to be kept away from journalists for at least one month in order to ensure their full mental recovery.

(WATCH a portion of the interview below)

Share The Story Of Inspiration And Perseverance With Your Friends 

Instead of Shutting Down Teen’s Hot Dog Stand, City Helps Him Get a Permit and Start a Business

By
McKinley Corbley
-

Instead of shutting down a teenager’s hot dog stand for not having a permit, the city helped him turn his stand into a business.

13-year-old Jaequan Faulkner started his hot dog stand in 2016 as a means of doing something creative to fend off his depression. Additionally, he wanted to use the money to buy himself some new clothes.

So with his tabletop business set up in front of his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the youngster started selling hot dogs, chips, and sodas to the locals – and everybody loved it.

As his stand garnered more and more attention, however, someone complained to the city’s health department for Jaequan’s lack of permit.

RELATED: If a Child Has Been Issued a Fine for Selling Lemonade, This Legal-Ade Team is Here to Help

But instead of shutting down the entrepreneurial venture, a dozen different city departments came together to help the teen get a permit and start a business.

“When I realized what [the complaint] was, I said, ‘No, we’re not going to just go and shut him down’ like we would an unlicensed vendor,” Minneapolis Environmental Health Director Dan Huff told WTVR. “We can help him get the permit. Let’s make this a positive thing and help him become a business owner.”

Several Minneapolis health inspectors volunteered to train the youngster on food safety. They gave him a thermometer that he could use to make sure the food was above 140 degrees; they got him a hand-washing station and a tent; and they even paid for Jaequan’s permit fee.

Not only that, a local nonprofit has been teaching Jaequan entrepreneurial skills and helping him to establish his new business: Mr. Faulkner’s Old-Fashioned Hot Dogs.

CHECK OUT: Mom Turns $700 into a $65 Million Company After Manufacturer Calls Her ‘a Stupid Woman’

The team is now raising money through a GoFundMe campaign so they can get Jaequan a mobile hot dog stand. The teen says that he will be donating a portion of the proceeds to mental health charities, and any additional funds will be put into his college fund.

But while the 13-year-old says that he has enjoyed making money and learning about business, he mostly enjoys using his hot dog stand to make people happy.

“It’s the cooking and the people,” he said. “I see someone go by with a frown on their face. I’m there with a smile, then I see a smile on their face. I just made a smile on somebody’s face by selling them a hot dog.”

(WATCH the video below)

Share This Sweet Story Of Community Kindness With Your Friends – Photo by CBS News

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