The good guys thread

[cassiesmom]

What a fascinating idea! And so much more useful that the discarded bags one sees stuck in trees by the roadside! It even seems like it would be a good mat to kneel on when gardening, too - I can think of many ways they can be used. But so much of staying warm is about insulation for homeless folks - anything between them and the cold ground is a good thing!

I want to learn to do this! http://www.instructables.com/id/What-you-Need-3/

[kuhio98]

Detroit Man Who Walks 21 Miles a Day to Work 'So Grateful' More Than $149,000 Is Raised for Him

When James Robertson's 1988 Honda Accord broke down a decade ago, the Detroit man didn't just go out and buy a new one.

Instead, Robertson, who makes $10.55 an hour – not enough to buy, maintain and insure a car – decided he was going to walk to and from work, a journey that stretches a marathon-length 21 miles.

He also takes a bus partway to his job destination: Schain Mold & Engineering.

Last Sunday, the Detroit Free Press reported that the 56-year-old has been making this long trek for years, no matter the weather.

"I don't think what I do is big deal," Robertson tells PEOPLE. "I do what I have to do to get to work in the morning. It's just a part of my life."

What it takes, he says, is determination and faith.

"My parents taught me hard work ethic growing up in Detroit," he says. "It's all about keeping your schedule on track and focusing your mind on what matters."


Paying It Forward
After the newspaper article on Robertson was published, Evan Leedy, 19, a student at Wayne State University, became inspired.

"I was blown away," Leedy tells PEOPLE. "He has been doing this for so long and doesn't complain. I thought of myself and how most people could never do what he does every single day."

As Leedy was looking through the readers' comments on the story, he saw people asking how they could donate money to help Robertson get a car.

"I then decided to create a GoFundMe page where people could donate," says Leedy. "I set the goal for $5,000, but I really didn't think many people would see it or donate."

Before he knew it, thousands of dollars were coming in. One day later, more 5,300 people donated a total in excess of $149,000.

"We now have car dealerships and car companies saying they will donate a car," Leedy says. "We can now use this money to truly change James' life."

Robertson currently doesn't live in a great neighborhood, and even with a car, he lives far from work.

"We can get him a nice place to live," Leedy says. "A place he deserves."

On Monday night, Leedy and Robertson met for the first time.

"It was so amazing to finally meet James," Leedy said. "I am really just so happy people trusted that the money was going to him so we can help turn his life around. He deserves it."

The first word that comes to Robertson's mind when he thinks of Leedy and the thousands that have donated: Shocked.

"I am just so stunned," he says. "Who would have thought that just a simple walk would have turned into this? I would have told you that you were crazy a few days ago."

Robertson is looking forward to putting his walking days behind him.

"I am taking this as a sign that it's time I start driving again," he said. "And getting more than two hours of sleep a night."

A Typical Work Day
Robertson leaves for work at 8 a.m. to get to work in time for his 2 p.m. shift as an injection molder.

When he finishes work at 10 p.m, he starts his trek home.

His colleagues notice that although he never complains about having to walk, they can see it's taking a toll on his body.

"He comes in here looking real tired – his legs, his knees," his coworker Janet Vallardo, 59, of Auburn Hills, told the Free Press.

Robertson doesn't just make this walk for his paycheck. He also cares about the people he has worked with for so many years.

"We're like a family," Robertson, who also gets fed dinner every weeknight by the plant manager's wife, tells the newspaper. "I look at her food, I always say, 'Excellent. No, not excellent. Phenomenal.'"

Despite his long and strenuous commute, Robertson is never late for work.

"I set our attendance standard by this man," Todd Wilson, plant manager at Schain Mold & Engineering, told the newspaper. "I say, 'If this man can get here, walking all those miles through snow and rain ….' Well, I'll tell you, I have people in Pontiac, 10 minutes away, and they say they can't get here – Bull!"

[kuhio98]

I want to learn to do this! http://www.instructables.com/id/What-you-Need-3/

Thank you! I've been looking for some instructions on how to cut up the bags.

[kuhio98]

From People Magazine: The Daily Treat: Miranda Lambert Gives More Than $200,000 to Pets in Need

Miranda Lambert continues to be dog's best friend!

Her MuttNation Foundation distributed over $200,000 to animal shelters in each of the 50 states in January.

"I feel so passionately about helping all animals and I'm thrilled that we have once again been able to give to phenomenal shelters all across the country," Lambert said in a statement. "The people at these shelters do such amazing work day in and day out and are truly heroes for the animals."

Lambert, 31, co-founded the non-profit organization in 2009 with her mom Bev, and to date it has raised over $1.5 million in support of animals. The money goes to spay and neuter efforts, medical treatments, adoptions, legislative changes and education.

"The unconditional love you get from a dog is better than anything else," Lambert told PEOPLE Country in 2012. "I can give the biggest show of my life, and my dogs don't give a damn. They're just happy to see their mom. Everyone should have a dog – the love they give back is like nothing else."

[kuhio98]

Australia's Oldest Man Spends Free Time Knitting Tiny Sweaters for Injured Penguins

Alfred "Alfie" Date, Australia's oldest living man, is putting his amazingly sharp mind and nimble hands to good use.

The 109-year-old likes to spend his free time knitting little sweaters for injured penguins from his room at a retirement home New South Wales, reports 9Stories.

Alfie picked up the hobby over 80 years, when his sister-in-law handed him a pair of needles and some wool and asked the man to knit a jumper for her baby boy.

That baby boy grew out of the jumper decades ago, but Alfie has continued to knit. The great-great-grandfather enjoys taking requests, so when two nurses asked in March if he wanted to knit sweaters for needy penguins, Alfie started stitching.

His creations were donated to Victoria's Phillip Island Penguin Foundation to help little penguins affected by an oil spill. Little penguins are a rare species only found in Australia and New Zealand, with just 32,000 living on Phillip Island.

Oil from the spill caused the penguins' feathers to stick together, allowing cold water to reach their skin. Sweaters from generous knitters like Alfie helped the birds stay warm while they waited to be cleaned up. The garments also prevented the penguins from picking at their feathers and accidentally consuming the toxic oil.

Thanks to Alfie and thousands of other knitters from around the world, Victoria's Phillip Island Penguin Foundation was overwhelmed with cozy jumpers, which allowed the foundation to fully rehabilitate many of the birds.

With this good deed done, Alfie now keeps his hands busy by knitting scarves for friends and hats for premature babies.

"It's a good way of getting along in life," Alfie said about his hobby. "You make friends all the time, but you don't make a fool of yourself either."

[Taz_Zoee]

I wish they would have shown the sweaters on real penguins and not stuffed animals.
I feel like I've actually seen them before though. Such a great thing!
And to be 109 and still able to do knitting. I am only 40-something and I can't knit!

[kuhio98]

I wish they would have shown the sweaters on real penguins and not stuffed animals...

That would be cute but I guess I'm glad they didn't have any penguins covered in oil for the photo op.

[mon]

I can't believe he knitted those sweaters in the picture. They are remarkable sweaters! I'm in awe. If I wasn't married...

[Taz_Zoee]

That would be cute but I guess I'm glad they didn't have any penguins covered in oil for the photo op.

Ahh, good point! They could have put them on clean birds just for modeling purposes. But yes, you are right. I wouldn't want to see oil soaked penguins either.