The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Stephanie Klinzing, the mayor of Elk River, Minnesota, challenged the people in her town to perform 1,000 acts of kindness in a month. Elk River's 24,000 residents answered the call, with good deeds like giving out cookies, paying for other people's groceries, and babysitting for free. After a month the people of Elk River had surpassed their goal with 1,400 good deeds -- and they don't plan to stop anytime soon.
The owners of Blue Marble ice cream shops, in Brooklyn, New York, are expanding their business to Butare, Rwanda. Alexis Miesen and Jennie Dundas are building their first store there, which will be run (and co-owned) by Rwandan women.

[kuhio98]

Laura Miller’s first act of anonymous kindness was placing a single lavender hydrangea bloom on the windshield of a stranger’s car in July 2009. Ever since, Miller has left a trail of small favors for unsuspecting residents of Pittsburgh. Nothing expensive, but delightful nonetheless: Starbucks gift certificates, uplifting messages, rolls of quarters, and other treats. “If I had the money, I would do it every single day,” says Miller, who recently revealed her identity at a fund-raising party, helping to attract other well-wishers to the effort. She now counts more than 1,600 people across the world in her cause for kindness. “It sounds dramatic, but I wish for a world where we all take care of each other,” says Miller.

[kuhio98]

Because Teachers Do More Than Help Kids Learn Their ABC's

When Jennifer Marciano, a school counselor in Nashville, donated 10 inches of her hair to make wigs for cancer patients, her students asked how they could help. They now hold regular hair-donation drives for Locks of Love and raise money for patients at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

[kuhio98]

1,000-Lb. Pig Rescues Cat After Fire

Three days after a fire blazed through a New Hampshire farm on Sept. 6, the only thing more devastating than the physical damage was the presumed death toll: 14 horses and three cats.
But if there was someone who hadn't lost hope, it was Colby, the farm's 1,000-lb. pig.
After breakfast, the Bedford, N.H., Perry Hill Farm mascot, characteristically slow and sluggish, started wandering into the woods nearby.
"She was on a mission," her caregiver and farm owner Harriet Finks, who followed the pig, tells ABCnews.com. "For her, it was quite a distance."
The 9-year-old pig, sniffing around the woods, led her caregivers to Gumbo, one of the cats they never found after the fire.
"He would have died out there," Finks said. "Now we have him back."
Gumbo's ears, tail, back and one side of his body were charred from the fire, and the burns on his feet prevented him from walking. His whiskers were gone.
But he's now home with Colby after spending a month in a veterinarian's care – and he's spending time with his sister Gidget, who found her way back to the farm two weeks after the fire. She, too, had been presumed dead. (Seven other cats, seven ponies, two goats and a miniature horse also survived.)

"We're thankful for Miss Colby," added Finks. "We're thankful for everyone."

[kuhio98]

A Mystery Hero in Water Rescue by Vera H-C Chan

A slip, a scary splash, then a scream. It took just seconds for a two-year-old girl to fall 20 feet into New York's East River waters. Many reacted quickly to rescue 2-year-old Bridgette Sheriden, but two men reacted even faster: Bridgette's father David Anderson and a still unknown French tourist who, after helping in the rescue, walked way and took a cab to destinations unknown.

[kuhio98]

They won the lottery - and gave the money away

Allen and Violet Large, a loving elderly couple from Nova Scotia, Canada, won $11.2 million in the lottery. But instead of living happily ever after in luxury, they decided to give their winnings away.
Worried about scam artists and content with their average, peaceful lifestyle, they decided that the money would bring them unnecessary stress. They helped their family with some of the money and then divided the rest of the money between churches, organizations fighting cancer, Alzheimer's and diabetes, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, cemeteries, hospitals, also their local fire department.
The couple has no regrets. "What you've never had, you never miss", Violet said. They are happy just to have each other.

[Catty1]

Many years ago I was on my way from Vancouver to the Shuswap area of British Columbia to visit my parents and sister. The Greyhound bus was full - we were all getting comfy and soon the bus was lumbering on its way.

Across the aisle and just one row up a man was battling a cough. It wasn't all that loud, but it was quite constant and we all sensed that this would be one of those things we would put up with during the trip. I put my hands in my coat pockets and found about a half-dozen wrapped hard candies. I had forgotten they were there and didn't want them so I reached across to the man and offered them, saying it might help his cough.

I will always remember the look of relief and gratitude on his face, as well as the silent but huge sigh of relief from all others aboard.

We completed our various journeys in comfortable quiet.

[kuhio98]

Out of the Mouth of Babes.

I received a call from my daughter she said, She was shopping with her son Dionte 5 years old at a Wal-mart store when he yelled out to her with excitement saying. Mom, Mom look a Super Hero. She turned to look at said son I don’t see any Super Hero. Once again he said mom look while pointing to a woman wearing military fatigues. Mom it’s a Super Hero. A passerby heard what had been said and turned to Dionte and said you are so right. She is our SUPER HERO. Thanks for Serving.
William and Digna Suarez of Colorado Springs. CO