The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Dog credited with saving residents from burning Aliquippa apartment building

ALIQUIPPA, Pa. —
A fire at an Aliquippa apartment building forced evacuations and caused damage Thursday night.

The fire happened on Franklin Avenue at an old photography studio that was turned into an apartment building.

Six people lived inside the building.

One of the residents told Channel 11 that his dog, Peanut, started barking, and that’s how he knew to get out.

"She woke me up. I opened my eyes. The whole room was filled with smoke. She got everybody up. She saved the day," said John Drouin.

Peanut is a veteran service dog. She usually alerts Drouin to seizures.

Ten fire departments battled the blaze.

Buildings on both sides of the apartment building suffered water damage.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
http://www.wpxi.com/videos/news/dog-...urning/vCF8gz/

[kuhio98]

Girl collects hundreds of shoes for other children

Rachel surpassed her goal of collecting 900 pairs of shoes.
ATHENS, TX (KLTV) - A 7-year-old girl has surpassed a goal that could give lots of East Texans happy feet.

A few months ago, Rachel Beets told her mother that she wanted to collect 900 pairs of shoes for her birthday, but not for herself.

Rachel wants to donate the shoes to the Henderson County Rainbow Room, a non-profit organization that helps clothe children in Child Protective Services' custody.

People across the country pitched in and donated 946 pairs of shoes. Rachel's birthday is January 31, so she will continue to collect shoes until that deadline.

[kuhio98]

Newspaper carrier saves life of elderly woman found laying in snow

KENOSHA (WITI) — The brutal wind and cold in the early morning hours of New Year’s Day brought first responders to 61st St. and 43rd Ave. in Kenosha. While delivering the Kenosha News around 4:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day — January 1st, Ralph Sustaita discovered an elderly woman lying in the snow — and that’s when Sustaita jumped into action.

Sustaita says he was alerted to the woman when he heard her voice.

“Just to hear the sound of the voice — it was just unreal. It was very cold, very windy. Her hands were real red. Her gloves were laying far from her,” Sustaita said.

Police believe the woman, who is in her 80s, lived nearby and went out for a walk. Authorities say she may have been there for up to two hours.

“She was lost. She was really confused,” Sustaita said.

Had Sustaita not made the discovery he did — the woman could have easily died.

“I just like, jumped into action, you know — like it was my own grandmother laying there,” Sustaita said.

Sustaita wrapped a jacket around the freezing woman, and called 911. The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment.

“I think it was from the grace of the Lord that I was in the right place at the right time,” Sustaita said.

The Kenosha News is reporting the woman was treated for hypothermia and frostbite and appears to be recovering.

[kuhio98]

Payless ShoeSource gives 200 kids new shoes

SOUTH MISSISSIPPI (WLOX) - When these Boys and Girls Club members walk back into school after Christmas break, they will do so with a new pair of shoes courtesy of Payless ShoeSource. Members from Boys and Girls Clubs in Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian each received $20 worth of new shoes and accessories.

"We were chosen last year and this year as well. Last year we were able to help around 100 of your youth and this year they increased the amount so we were able to help around 200 kids," said Tangie Carrillo.

Boys and Girls Club's directors say this program provides the necessities to their young members who otherwise may not get a new pair of shoes because of financial issues.

"Shoes are important just because they are a need. They're not just a pleasure. It's a necessity for children to have shoes and especially have cute shoes and good shoes to go back to school in is important," said Mindy Pizzetta, Director at Boys and Girls Club Qatar Center.

Tennis shoes and moccasins were some of the more popular choices. Still some children decided to opt for a more stylish pair of shoes.

"I like these boots because they are fuzzy and comfortable and I just love boots," said one of the lucky children.

Of the many programs the Boys and Girls Clubs offers to children, directors say this shoe giveaway brings excitement to a whole new level for members.

"Oh my gosh they were so thrilled. They couldn't wait," said Shannel Smith, Unit Director at the Boys and Girls Club of the Coast in Hancock County.

"They made sure that their permission forms were signed this morning. They made sure that their parents signed everything you know because they couldn't wait to come and see what type of shoes they could choose and try on."

"This is very awesome because this is a special opportunity that we got for our boys and girls club," said Catera Gibbs.

Over 200 members from all five of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Mississippi Gulf Coast took part in the two day shoe giveaway.

[kuhio98]

Starbucks Customers Break 1,000 in Pay-It-Forward Record

The customers at a Connecticut Starbucks are on their third day of a record-breaking pay-it-forward spree as more than 1,000 customers have cheerfully agreed to pay for the customers behind them.

Today's run smashed the record the store set Thursday at closing when a total of 783 people paid it forward.

"Nobody has broken it (the chain) yet," said Joshua, manager of the Starbucks store in Newington, Conn. Joshua said he is not permitted to release his last name according to company policy.

The store opened a gift card for moments when there is no one behind a paying customer. "On Christmas Day, somebody put in $100," Joshua said.

The pay-it-forward chain began about 8 a.m. on Christmas eve. Some customers pull into the drive-through expecting to pay just a couple bucks for their coffee, but may end up paying an upwards of $15 more for the person behind them without any hesitation, Joshua said.

"I think it's awesome,… but most importantly, l hope it influences other people to do random acts of kindness, not just pay it forward at Starbucks, but to keep it going," he said.

When the number reached 30, the Starbucks employees were shocked it was so high. At 40, Josh posted a picture of the tally board on Instagram. Now at 1,000, the possibilities seem endless.

"We hope that it will continue on, even if it doesn't continue on here, we just hope that it will inspire people to do greater things and inspire people to do more for their communities," Joshua said.

[lizbud]

Great rescue of a dog lost after a bad car wreck on State road. He was still wearing the red coat he had on in the car.
So proud of the folks who braved the sub zero temps to search for AJ the Beagle.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/c...-lost-in-wreck