Ronnie Lockwood, pictured at Christmas on the right – credit, Rob Parsons It was the day before Christmas Eve, and recent homemakers Rob and Dianne Parsons were surprised with a knock on the door. Opening it, Rob looked upon a rather strange sight. A man stood there with a wheeled garbage bin containing his possessions, … Read more
Annie Sprat – Unsplash A woman given something like a terminal prognosis has responded with a simple request for what might be her last Christmas: a Christmas card. Clare Jones from Swansea, Wales, was told her bowel cancer was no longer responding to chemotherapy. The mother of 3, who was diagnosed in 2022, described herself … Read more
Vandalur Lake in Chennai before EFI restored it (top) and after (bottom) – credit, EFI, taken as screengrabs. Recently, an Indian environmentalist and editor was invited to share his incredible work restoring hundreds of natural and man-made water sources all across India with a unique style of landscape engineering. His nonprofit has cleaned and reshaped … Read more
First cedar tree on Christmas Tree Lane – Courtesy of Belmont Nursery in Fresno, CA Modern science has mixed with Christmas magic to safeguard the legacy of a 100-year-old holiday tradition in Fresno, California. The story of Christmas Tree Lane began in 1920 as a way to transform a family tragedy into something much brighter. … Read more
credit – Blindfolded Barbeque When clients ask Christopher Jones how he cooks the delicious barbequed meat at his restaurant, he answers, “‘Just like you, except I have to concentrate a little harder.’” The extra concentration, for a blind man, is a necessity not an option. But as is so often the case, this became the … Read more
The Grandma Stand – credit, Graham Meyers for the City of McKinney From Canada’s “As it Happens” comes a story by way of Texas of a “Grandma Stand” where volunteer elders offer to lend an ear to anyone beset by troubles. Anyone can walk by the purple lemonade stand and sit down across from a … Read more
Quilen Blackwell – credit, CNN Newsroom, released Hope and opportunity are blossoming on the South Side of Chicago where a man and his wife have used flowers to help poor communities turn over a new leaf. Running two nonprofits, Southside Blooms and Chicago Eco House, Quilen Blackwell and his wife Hannah Bonham are helping at-risk … Read more
Tick species that spread Lyme disease – credit CDC From 60 Minutes comes the story of a Georgia science team that carried the Stars and Stripes to Europe for an international science competition and finished in the top ten by using genetic engineering to develop a superior testing and treatment method for Lyme disease. If … Read more
Amputee Kim Smith pre- and post-transplant – SWNS A woman who lost all her limbs after contracting an infection and getting sepsis while on vacation in Spain eight years ago is now thrilled after receiving a new hand. Kim Smith and her doctors were trying for a double hand transplant during the 14-hour surgery, but … Read more
Former police officer Wade Milyard started Fresh Step Laundry to serve the homeless Wade Milyard heard the voice from “out of nowhere” and knew he needed to listen—he thought it was God, or some other higher power, calling him into action. It started a few years ago when the former canine officer for the Frederick … Read more