DNC Move Means 8000 Pounds Of Food For Charity

A disappointment for 65,000 people in North Caolina turned into a massive good fortune for the homeless after the Democratic National Convention changed locations. Originally supposed to be held at the Bank Of America Staduim, the venue was changed after concerns arose due to bad weather. This left the stadium with over 8,000 pounds of pre-prepared food created by chef Jon Morey and the kitchen staff of Delaware North Inc. The meals were intended for everyone from the stadium ticket holders to the highest of VIP suites and every care had been put into the menu which included pecan-fried chicken, baked orzo, fresh crudités, three-bean bake, fresh-cut fruit, short rib cobbler, and much more.

After the sudden switch in location, it was decided to give the food to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, where it would be redistributed to food banks and soup kitchens all over Charlotte, N.C.

“None of this food will go to waste. We contacted every shelter and soup kitchen in town and asked them how much refrigeration capacity they have and how many are they feeding. It will all be gone at the end of the day," said Kay Carter of Second Harvest. She stated that there was also enough popcorn for 70,000 people and that the excess was being sent to various community children's programs, including low-income daycare.

The donations were made possible by Delaware North and local sports team the Carolina Panthers, who play at the stadium. “It’s gratifying to know that the time, energy and effort that went into preparing the food will ultimately serve those in our community who are most in need," said Riley Fields, the Panthers' spokeman.

Man Wins Over 250,000 Canival Toys And Gives Them Away

                      

Peter Drakos has an unusual talent. He is amazingly good at carnival games. So good in fact, that since 1972 he's won over 250,000 of them. What does he do with all of these toys? He gives them to charity. Over 50 charities have benefitted from his kindness and he revels in the smiles he brings to the faces of less fortunate children.

Man Creates Bicycle Library To Offer Books To The Homeless

Robson Mendonça spent a decade on the streets of San Paulo before a single book changed his life. After reason Orson Wells 'Animal Farm', Robson decided to stop drinking, study more, and finally got his life back on track. Now, the 61 year old former construction worker is working to bring that same hope to others who society may have written off. The homeless face many problems the average person doesn't think about, including not being able to check books out of a library. With no permanent address, they cannot borrow books by normal means. That's where Robson comes in. He began his initiative by walking around the busiest parts of the city and hand carrying books which the homeless could borrow from him.

When the non-profit Green Mobility heard about Robson's efforts, they donated a bicycle to him to assist. More donations began to roll in as well, these in the form of more books and now Robson's library boasts a hefty 30,000 volumes. He cycles around the city carrying as many as 300 books at a time and has so far had over 107,000 loans. The checkout process is one based on trust as there is no requirement for the borrower to be the one that brings the book back and often books are passed among a few people before being returned. The bicycle library also contains a solar powered laptop which three additional volunteers use to run literacy classes and help people find local shelters. Green Mobility is so excited about the success of Robson's library that they have decided to start more mobile libraries in as many as 12 other Brazilian cities. 

To read more, click here.

Man Wins $250 in Groceries and Decides to Pay It Forward

Money is tight for a lot of people lately and news channel ABC7 out of California was trying to help out by doing a weekly Facebook giveaway of $250 grocery gift cards. They never expected that kindness to be paid forward quite the way it was however. Scotty Randall, a local from Santa Ana, won the weekly drawing but instead of spending the money on himself, he went down to his local Von's grocery store to give it away. He broke the money down into smaller denominations of $25 each and began scouring the store for people who looked like they could use a little help.

When Vons heard about the good deed, they matched the earlier gift card with another $250 one so Scotty could do even more good deeds with it. One of the families who received a card was the Olsen family. Mr. Olsen was shopping with his three children when Scotty gave him the gift card. The timing could not have been better as it was Mrs. Olsen's birthday and her elated family could now afford to buy her cards and flowers to celebrate.

Scotty's good deeds didn't stop at the grocery store however as he also gave money to the Contreras family after their name was given to him by the Boys and Girls Club of Garden Grove. David Contreras is returning to the Army and will once again be away from his two kids and wife.

Scotty is now eligible for for a grand prize drawing of $5000 from Vons and says that if he wins, he will once again be looking to pay the money forward to other families in need.

1.7 Million Raised For Nikola Tesla Museum

Most people have never heard of Wardenclyffe or Shoreham, New York, but mention the name Nikola Tesla and intellectuals everywhere will chatter excitedly about this unsung hero of modern science. When the world was still living in a time of candlelight, Tesla was inventing the concept of alternating current, the very system we use today to power our homes. Want to know more about Tesla? Read here.

Wardenclyffe was the final laboratory that Tesla used before his passing and he had intended to build a tower there that would have provided free energy to the entire world. When the project lost funding in 1917, however, the land was sold off to film and paper manufacturers. The laboratory and tower foundation still remain to this day and the land recently went up for sale again. Two bidders were eyeing the property, one a non-profit intent on building a Nikola Tesla museum and the other a developer who intended to build a retail center. Faced with the prospect of losing this part of history to a new Walmart, popular comedy site The Oatmeal put out a plea to all of geekdom to ask for help in outbidding the retailer.

The goal had been set at $850,000 but within days that number had been smashed through by generous donations. The fundraising efforts are now at over $900k and growing with a full 39 days of fundraising left. The money already raised, when combined with a matching contribution from NY, will be more than enough to purchase the property and any additional funding will go toward the building of the museum.

Since the campaign started last week, it has raised an average of $145,000 per day, $6,000 per hour and $100 per minute, with contributions coming from 102 countries, according to an infographic by Indiegogo. So far, 20,000 people have donated.

Soldiers make a boy's wish come true

Soldiers make a boy's wish come true : News : UpperMichigansSource.com

Ladd Anderson's leukemia has kept him from doing a lot of things he wanted to do (like seeing his big brother graduate, and following his example of enlisting into military service). So when the Army Reserve found out about this through the Make-A-Wish foundation, they gave him the chance to participate in the Reserves, giving him a uniform and a "command" as they built a bridge for Marquette's annual sailboat race.

Video of the story:

Man's Dying Wish To Leave Tips Goes Viral

We recently brought you the story of Aaron Collins and his last wish for his family to raise $500 and leave it as a tip for some unsuspecting waiter or waitress at a pizza place. His family was able to fulfill that dream and they posted a video of the good deed on-line. Since that day, a little over a month ago, the video has gone viral along with the message of kindess that spurred it. People have generously donated to the Aaron's Last Wish fund with totals already breaching $50k and growing. The family now has enough funding to continue their kind acts once a week for the next 2 years. Sean, Aaron's brother, has already passed out another $1500 to 3 more service staff and videos can be seen on their facebok page.

For the people on the receiving end of these tips, they are a breath of relief during a time of economic turmoil. One waitress is working three jobs at once just to get through college while the other two have young children at home that they are trying to provide for. Aaron's legacy will go to good use with all three.

To read more, click here.

Company Turns Bombs Into Jewelry to Help Laos Farmers

The aftermath of a war is rarely thought about when the powers that be are coming up with tactics. Sadly, this was the case with the country of Laos during the Vietnam war. In an effort to prevent communism from taking hold there during a Lao rebellion, the US dropped over 2 million tons of explosives. The total population of Laos is only 6 million, making that one ton of explosives for every 3 people. The number is staggaring. With the war long behind most other countries, the people of Laos are still struggling with the daily reality of unexploded ordinance (UXOs) littered around their country. It makes farming an extremely risky undertaking.

That's where NY designer, Elizabeth Suda comes in. During her time working for Coach, she became curious about the countries where their merchandise came from and she was shocked to discover the story of Laos in the process of her travels. What she found there wasn't just a people living with daily terror, however, but a people trying to make the best of a bad situation. The locals had taken to disarming the bombs and melting down the metals they were made from to reforge them into spoons. This one simple idea, of turning items meant to destroy into items meant for daily use, inspired Suda to take up the cause. She has begun working heavily with the Lao people under her company Project: peaceBOMB.

"Watching the artisans transform deadly pieces of history into spoons, something useful, I felt this story had to be told," remembers Suda. "In an instant, I thought of making a bracelet and it was just one of those moments.They were already doing this: this was their own innovation through their own initiative."

Suda has worked hard to ensure that the jewelry created by the company isn't just your typical fare either. She designs the pieces to truly stand on their own as beautiful works of art that any person would be proud to own. The irony of US citizens buying back jewelry made from the very bombs their country dropped on Laos is not lost on her and she feels it's a fitting situation. The generousity of those who purchase from Project: peaceBOMB are helping the Lao people to clear their lands of deadly UXOs. Since the company started, they have sold enough jewelry to clear 10,000 square meters of bomb-littered land. To read more about this amazing inititive, click here.

Taiwanese Vegetable Vendor Wins Ramon Magsaysay Awards

Most of our American readers may not have ever heard of the Ramon Magsaysay Awards but they are they Taiwanese version of the Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to those who go above and beyond to help humanity. This year's winners include Filipino Romulo Davide, who helped farmers fight pest infestation on rice, bananas and other crops; Indian Kulandei Francis, head of a village self-help group; Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an environmental lawyer from Bangladesh; Cambodian agronomist Yang Saing Koma who helps farmers' improve rice production; Indonesian Ambrosius Ruwindrijarto who is fighting to stop illegal logging; and Chen Shu-chu, a Taiwanese vegetable vendor who has donated over 7 million Taiwan dollars ($231,800) to several children's charities.

Chen Shu-chu isn't a rich person, she sleeps on the floor of her small home and her education stopped after the sixth grade, but her donations have helped build a library and provided food and shelter for at risk children as well as families displaced by disasters.

"Money serves its purpose only when it is used for those who need it," she said. "I feel happy whenever I could help other people."

Motorists in Wales Raise Money for Air Rescue Crew...During Accident

Everyone's been there at some point or another, stuck behind the wheel of a car on a highway jam-packed with other drivers. No one is moving because up ahead there has been a bad accident. For many, the typical reaction is a sigh of frustration or even irritation that this accident happened while they were in a hurry. We often forget that our inconvenience is someone else's very bad day. That fact didn't escape one group of motorists in Wales this weekend when they watched the descent of a Wales Air Ambulance after a bad traffic collision left a young man in critical condition.

While the medical crews worked to save the victim's life, one motorist got out of his car and began collecting money from others around him. He raised a quick £50 during the 15 minutes before the ambulance was ready to take off again. The money was passed into the hands of the air crew, a donation to help continue funding the good work they do. The crew of the ambulance were unfortunately unable to get the name of this incredibly generous person, or the others who donated, but they are immensely grateful.

"This gesture of public support is phenomenal. We were only on scene for a short amount of time, probably under ten minutes.But in that time the motorists on the M4 managed to group together to raise £50 for Wales Air Ambulance.I would like to thank the man who collected the donations and everyone who donated.It is thanks to public support and donations that we are able to provide a lifesaving air ambulance service to the people of Wales," said paramedic Chris Conners.

For more information, click here.

14 Year Old Boy Wins Award for Providing Shoes to the Homeless

14 year old Nicholas Cranston was recently awarded a Hero Award by the Build-A-Bear organization for his non-profit Gotta Have Sole. Nicholas works hand in hand with local homeless shelters to provide shoes to the children living in less thatn ideal conditions. The shelters provide Nicholas with the sizes the need most and he then purchases the shoes with donations made to his organization. He hand packs them and delivers them to children for whom this may be the first new shoes they've ever received. In the short time since his non-profit was started, Nicholas has raised an astounding $49,000 and purchsed 3,000 pairs of shoes for needy children.

Threads For Teens Gives Clothing To Under Privileged Girls

Anyone who has been to high school knows that being the outcast can often come with the dire consequence of bullying. For teens living in foster care or in group homes, this is often made worse because they cannot afford to dress the same as their peers. One California teen is trying to change that. Allyson Ahlstrom, 16, of Santa Rosa, California, started Threads For Teens, a non-profit organization whose goal is to help out struggling girls by outfitting them with the same brands their fellow students are wearing.

Allyson collects donations from companies for new clothing and accesories. She then sets them up in her "boutique" and schedules appointments with social workers to allow girls from foster homes to come shop. The price tags are blank and Allyson makes a point of putting out clothing that will fit the teen she's meeting with. It's a lot like playing pretend but the benefits are very real. The girls who come to shop at Threads For Teens get a self-esteem boost from being allowed to come pick out their own clothing the same way their peers would in regular stores. Most walk out with a couple of tops, a couple of bottoms, a dress, a purse, and some accessories but all of them walk out feeling a little less like an outcast.

Allyson recently won the Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award, which recognizes girls aged 14-17 for their work in bettering their communities.

To read more about Allyson, please click here.

Irvine Teen Gives The Gift Of Sight To Those Less Fortunate

For most 15 year olds, a typical afternoon revolves around hanging out with friends, video games, or tv but one Irvine teen has taken his free time and put it to an amazing use. Yash Gupta is the founder of Sight Learning and is one of the newest recipients of the Huggable Heros awards given out by the Build-A-Bear Workshop. In 2011, this incredible young man took it upon himself to begin collecting eyeware for those less fortunate and in only a year, he has collected over $70,000 in glasses. He spends 25 hours a week at least just setting up collection points at local optometrists, collecting the glasses left there, and redistributing them to the needy.

Gupta has even hosted two international clinics, one in Tiauna, Mexica and the other in Copan, Honduras, where he assisted over 5,000 people by providing them with much needed eyeware.

To read more, please click here.

8 Year Old Climbs Kilimanjaro To Help Cure Duchenne

An amazing 8 year old boy named Tyler Armstrong is the second youngest person to ever climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The Los Angeles native made this incredible journey with one purpose in mind: he wanted to raise money to help cure Duchenne, a type of Muscular Dystrophy. In an act of selflessness, Tyler set out on this quest after meeting another young boy suffering from the illness. He has already climbed California's Mount Whitney last year, setting a record for being the youngest person to ever do so and he doesn't have plans to stop any time soon.

$30 Million Gift For The Homeless Of Vancouver

For 56 homeless people living on the streets of Vancouver, a miracle has happened. Taylor Manor, a lovely 1915 Tudor style mansion, will soon become a new refuge for them where they can seek treatment for long term mental illnesses which keep them in poverty. The home had once been used for long term care but had shut down in 2000. Now a $30 million dollar donation by a wealthy elderly couple in Vancouver is allowing the city to reopen the doors of Taylor Manor in its attempts to combat homelessness. The house is undergoing renovations and is planned to be open in the next two years. For more information on this story, please go here. 

Women Deliver Cakes In Secret For 34 Years

Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes but some of the most moving are those where the person doing the good doesn't look for any thanks. One such case is that of the '9 Nanas' team in Tennesse. This group of nine women, ages ranging from 52 to 74, have spent the past 34 years giving out cakes to families in need. These amazing women drive through less fortunate neighborhoods looking for signs of families in distress, such as those without air conditioning or those without power at night, and they leave care packages on their doorsteps. The women don't stick around for thanks, preferring to deliver their cakes and jams in secret, slipping away before anyone sees them, but the people they affect are certainly grateful. Read their amazing story here:



Click image to read the story.

Peach's Neat Feet!

Madison Steiner is a pretty incredible woman. She's an artist who found an incredible way to help children with disabilities and long term illnesses. What she gives is so much more than shoes...it's hope.

Enjoy your day!