Category: Uncategorized

  • Woman Pays For 60 Strangers’ Meals at Pennsylvania Diner
  • Diners at the newly reopened Country Diner in Hegins Township, Pennsylvania received a nice surprise this week. A woman who wished to remain anonymous paid for all 60 diners’ meals. During the lunch rush, the woman asked the manager, Lorrie Renninger, if she could pay for everyone’s bill. “I waited on this lady, and it was time for her to pay her bill, and came up to the register and said she would like to pay for everyone’s bill. I’m like, ‘Are you sure?’ and she was like, ‘Yes,”’ Renninger recalled. In addition to paying everyone’s bill, which totaled $350, the woman also tipped the two servers who were working the lunch shift a total of $100. This act of kindness was especially appreciated as the diner had just reopened after being shut down during COVID-19. “Business has been up and down. Even though we’re opening, we still can’t get the help, you know. We had to do reduced hours,” said Renninger. “I’d like to say thank you so much. You made our day, and it’s wonderful that you do that,” she continued. Image source: Republican Herald
  • Georgia Teachers Surprise School Custodian With New Car
  • Chris Jackson, the head custodian at Unity Grove Elementary School in Locust Grove, Georgia, had been walking to work every day before two teachers teamed up to raise the money for a new car.  “That’s not unusual for our school,” Principal Anne Wilson told Fox News. “Any time we know of a need, people just come flooding to help … I’ve been here 20 years as principal and it’s always been that way.” “People unify around each other, around people in times of need and in times of joy,” continued Wilson. “It’s a real blessing to work here.” The touching moment when the teachers surprised Jackson with the car was shared to Facebook and has since gone viral. Jackson appears stunned and says, “Thank you. Oh my stars, there is a God. I never would have dreamed of something like this. Thank you all.” The video has garnered over 74k likes and has been viewed over 2.2 million times.  Back in June, special education teacher Jodi Combs and first grade teacher Megan MacDonald found out that Jackson had “fallen on some hard times.” “Chris is one of those co-workers that whatever you need, he’s going to make it happen,” Chris said. “The kids adore him, the teachers adore him. And he works so very hard.” Teachers at Unity Grove and other members of the community came together to raise approximately $1,000. They gave Jackson most of that money but saved some to begin saving to buy him a car. "We kept some of those original funds to be able to help Chris when he did find a car, be able to get his tag and insurance and all of those things that go with it," Combs said. When MacDonal learned that one of her friends was selling their Chevy Impala, she texted Combs, “Let’s make this happen for Chris.” The teachers were able to raise the money in mere hours. “We were completely blown away,” said Combs. “Everything fell into place.” Combs and MacDonald were able to get Jackson the title to the car, his tag and cover some of his insurance – thanks to the money they raised. After the video went viral on Facebook, someone paid for Jackson’s car insurance for a full year. "I want people to know that this is not just me or this is not just one teacher," Combs said. "This is a whole lot of people that have huge hearts that came together to make this happen." Image source: Fox 5 Atlanta
  • Bone Marrow Recipient Meets Donor Years Later on Live TV
  • Tia Jensen was diagnosed with leukemia in 2018 after she began noticing bruises on her body. She had already been living with multiple sclerosis for 20 years and admitted that while she was “used to being frustrated or disappointed with (her) body,” the diagnosis was a surprise, according to TODAY. “I was sad, but it was just another thing I was going to have to face,”said Jensen. She began treatment with chemotherapy at the Seattle Cancer Center Alliance, but she also needed a bone marrow transplant. She joined the list and hoped she would get the news that she had been matched. Meanwhile, in Idaho, Gage Tappe was struggling with depression and at an “all-time low” after moving to a brand new state and having partial custody of one of his children. He joined the national bone marrow donor program, and found out months later that he had been matched with Jensen. Tappe said that he did not even hesitate. "It's how I was raised," Tappe said. "Help people when they need help. If you can help in a big way or a small way, doesn't matter. Do what you can, and that's it." Just months after being matched, Jensen received the lifesaving bone marrow transplant that she desperately needed. This caused both her leukemia and multiple sclerosis to go into remission, and Tappe said that helping save someone else’s life aided his own depression. "I felt like my life wasn't worth very much, so I hoped that I gave myself a chance to put some value to my own life by trying to help somebody extend theirs and continuing to stay on the list ... And you have to be alive to do that," Tappe explained. "And I can't (be on the list) if I'm in the throes of depression or not around ... It gave me a sense of value to myself that I didn't previously have." Jensen wrote numerous letters to her anonymous donor, and received an email with his information two years later.  "I was screaming, running through the house," Jensen recalled. "'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh. I have my donor information!' ... I think we forget too often how kind and big-hearted people are. And I am so grateful that my donor was willing to just be brave and take that step and share this kindness and marrow and give me a second chance at life. All this was done not knowing a thing about me, and I am just floored by the charity and the beauty in that." The pair finally met in person on The Today Show, and, to honor Tappe’s donation, Jensen and Be the Match put together an online registry event to encourage other potential donors to sign up. “I’m just grateful and happy that you’re here,” said Tappe. “You inspired me. You did such an amazing thing for me and my family and I wanted to honor you,” said Jensen. “Hopefully we can save more lives.” Image source: TODAY
  • Bride Flies 800 Miles to Share First Dance With 94-Year-Old Grandpa Who Could Not Travel to Wedding
  • Natalie Browning’s grandpa had a stroke two weeks before her big day, but that did not stop her from having her first dance with him. Since he was unable to travel, the 24-year-old bride flew 800 miles to have that special moment with him. On Aug. 1, Browning boarded a flight from Virginia to Florida, where her grandpa, Nelson May, lives. She did her makeup at the airport and carried her wedding dress in a pink garment bag until her arrival, all of which was documented in a Facebook video. When she arrived at her grandpa’s home, Browning was wearing her wedding dress and the duo shared a sweet dance. "For months he'd been so excited to dance with me on my wedding night and I'm just so happy that I was able to give him that experience," Browning told South West News Service. "I don't get to see him very often so it truly was a special day." Browning, a jeweler based in Virginia Beach, told Fox News that she is grateful she was able to make her grandpa smile.  "I run a small jewelry business called Of Great Value that is centered around reminding people that they are deeply valuable," she said. "I've been trying to implement that belief more in my own life and wanted my grandpa to know that he is incredibly valuable to me, and even though he was unable to come to my wedding, that the dance he so desired to have with me was valuable too. So, we made it happen." Browning married her husband on June 27. Image source: Fox News
  • Astronaut Brings Ashes and Photos of 9/11 Victim to Space to Fulfill Lifelong Dream
  • At the young age of 6, Chandler “Chad” Keller already knew that he wanted to be an astronaut. Unfortunately, “his eyes were kind of bad,” according to his father. So, he pursued a degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder “to follow that dream.” Chad began working with Boeing as a propulsion specialist launching communication satellites for the U.S. Department of Defense and National Reconnaissance Office. On Sept. 11, 2001, the 29-year-old had just finished a series of launch briefings at the Pentagon and was headed home to California where his wife and parents lived. He boarded the fateful American Airlines Flight 77 early that morning that looped back around and crashed into the Pentagon.  For the past 20 years, friends and family have cared for the Kellers since they lost their son. A stranger reached out to the family a few years ago and made them a promise: they could make Chad’s dream of going to space come true. That stranger, Chris Cassidy, was a Navy SEAL before being selected as a NASA astronaut in 2004. "One of the special things about spaceflight is that NASA allows us to carry a few mementos for friends, family, loved ones and organizations that mean something to us,” Cassidy told CNN. Ahead of his final flight to space in 2020, Cassidy reached out to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Chad Keller was connected to the Pentagon but was featured at the museum as well, and Cassidy learned of Chad’s deep love of space. Cassidy called Richard Keller and asked if he could take their son to space, and the Keller’s said they could not be happier to “let him ride with a guy like Chris.” "I was just really excited to talk to Chad's family and let them know what it meant to me to bring their family, specifically Chad, to the space station and kind of complete his journey," Cassidy said. When Cassidy took off to space in April 2020, he was 50 years old, the same age that Chad would be now. The Kellers watched the launch and prayed for the astronauts’ safety.  Cassidy carried Chad's Boeing launch pins as well as two pins from University of Colorado, his memorial service program, a photo of Chad and his wife Lisa and a letter, as well as some of his ashes. Cassidy also took a piece of steel and wrist bands carrying messages of hope from the 9/11 museum. While in space, Cassidy captured photos of the objects he carried with him. "With each item that I pull out. I always pause for a second to think a little bit about the story to that particular item," Cassidy said. "It's kind of special to think about the story and the path, the journey of that object from the hands that it was in to my hands to this window." “It was a wonderful gift, and we appreciate it every day,” said Richard Keller. Image source: CNN
  • America’s Oldest Living WWII Veteran Celebrates 112th Birthday
  • The oldest living American World War II veteran just celebrated another trip around the sun. 112-year-old Lawrence Brooks marked the milestone with a birthday drive-by celebration at his New Orleans home on Sunday, Sept. 12.  As people drove by, Brooks donned a Saint jersey, waved, and advised others to “serve God and be nice to people,” according to WDSU. Brooks was born on Sept. 12, 1909 and served in the U.S. Army from 1940 to 1945. He was a member of the predominantly African American 91st Engineer Battalion. Brooks was initially stationed in New Guinea, followed by the Philippines and climbed the ranks to private first class during the second world war. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards tweeted a photo with Brooks on Sunday and thanked him for his service. Last year, on his 111th birthday, a flyover was organized with a WWII-era aircraft. According to the Veterans Affairs, which confirmed Brooks is America’s oldest living veteran, he was drafted by the Army in 1940. He trained at Camp Shelby in Mississippi, and was honorably discharged in November 1941. However, Brooks was called back for service when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor in December of that year. After leaving the Army, he returned home to New Orleans where he worked many years operating a forklift. He married and had five kids, 13 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Sunday’s birthday celebration was organized by the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. Image source: CNN
  • Good As Gold: Builders in France Discover Stash of 239 Gold Coins Worth Up To $356,000, Get to Keep Half
  • Three builders struck gold while working on the restoration of a house in Plozévet, Brittany, in the coastal area of Bigouden in 2019, according to a press release from auctioneers Deloys ahead of the sale. The estate had been purchased by a couple in 2012. While combining a barn with a nursery, the builders came across a metal box lodged inside of a wall, which had gold coins inside. Three days later, they found a purse above a beam that contained another bunch of coins. The treasure amounted to approximately 239 coins in total that were minted during the reign of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. The Regional Preventive Archaeology Service in France authenticated, analyzed and researched the coins. The oldest dates back to 1638, while the most recent is from 1692. The collection includes a set of especially rare coins, including the Golden Louis with Templar Cross, Golden Louis with a long curl, and Louis XIV by the Atelier de Dijon — which has an estimated value of $17,805. The manor was originally built in the 13th century and would have likely been owned by a family of wealthy merchants or farmers. The identity of the last known occupants stems from the 18th century. The precise value of the coins will be determined at Deloys auction house in Angers, France on Sept. 29. The money will be split between the three builders who discovered the coins along with the two owners of the home, with each group receiving half of the funds. Image source: The Local France
  • Falling Cat Saved By American Flag At Miami Hurricanes Game
  • Perhaps the most exciting play at the University of Miami-Appalachian State University football game last Saturday, Sept. 11, was when spectators worked together to save a falling cat.  A video from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens shows a cat dangling from the upper deck, where it was clinging to some type of fabric on the railing. Someone reached down to try to save the cat, but it fell to the seats below. However, fans in the lower deck used an American flag to catch the feline football fan, and the crowd went wild. According to NBC Miami, the flag belonged to season ticket holder Graig Cromer and his wife, Kimberly. Cromer is a University of Miami facilities manager and told the outlet that he and his wife untied the flag from the railing when they spotted the dangling kitten above them. "They were trying to grab it from above and they couldn't reach it, but they were scaring it downward," said Craig. "It hung there for a little while with its two front paws, then one paw, then I was like, 'Oh, my goodness, it's coming soon.'" Cheers erupted when the Cromers caught the cat, and Miami eventually went on to win the football game. "This,” Craig told the Miami Herald, “is my first catch.” Image source: The Independent
  • Single Mom From Tennessee Braids Kids’ Hair For Free To Ease Burden For Other Parents And Boost Kids’ Morale
  • Although Brittany Starks is a single mother that lives paycheck to paycheck and has been homeless twice, she does not let that stop her from giving back to others. Her hardships have inspired her to spread kindness to those in her community who may need it. In homes, churches and salons across Nashville, Starks and a group of volunteers braid children's hair for free to take some stress away from the parents. Braiding hair can cost hundreds of dollars and take around five to six hours, if not longer. The effort began in August, when Starks created a Facebook post offering her services in Nashville. "I wanted to do something for the parents like me whose money is going to feeding their children and making sure they have a roof over their head," Starks told CNN. "I wasn't expecting a big reaction. I thought I'd maybe get five kids or so, but I didn't realize how huge the need was for this." She said the number quickly climbed from five kids to 35 kids, and she has since lost count.  "It's been very hard. I haven't gotten any sleep. I've been extremely tired, but it's very worth it," Starks said. "I feel like I'm doing it for a good cause." Starks often travels to the children and said she has braided hair until she could no longer feel her fingers, all so the kids will be ready for their first day of school. Her kind act is not just helping ease the burden for the parents, it is also a huge morale booster for the children as well. She hopes that her kindness will inspire others. "As a single parent who has gone through so much of the same struggles they did, I know what these parents are feeling," Starks said. "And if I can help in any way, even if it's just putting a smile on their faces and easing this burden, I'm going to do it." Image source:  CNN
  • Plumber Lands Record Deal After Music Mogul Hears Him Singing On The Job
  • Kev Crane from Leicestershire, England was offered a record deal after spending six weeks working on three bathrooms at the home of Paul Conneally, owner of New Reality Records. Conneally said he noticed his plumber had a “good voice” as he sang along to the radio as he worked. "He sings along to the radio all day as he tiles and plumbs in bathrooms. I told him he had a good voice and he mentioned he'd been writing and recording songs in his home studio," Conneally told the BBC. Crane, 49, often sang along to the likes of David Bowie and Meat Loaf and revealed to Conneally, 62, that he had previously played music in bands and worked on writing his own album. Crane says he was shocked when the homeowner asked to hear more of his work. "I sent him the album on the Friday and I thought if I don't hear from him over the weekend, I can just go back to work for him on the Monday and just carry on fitting his bathrooms," Crane said. Conneally loved the album and described it as “a sound that is so 80s but so now at the same time,” and offered Crane a record deal.  The album, Why Can’t I Be You?, has since been released by New Reality Records. "It just feels surreal. I never expected anything like this to happen. I love writing music. It's my hobby," Crane told the BBC. "When I went round to give Paul a quote, he mentioned he owned a record label but I didn't really think much of it." Crane added that he is working on new music and seeing what could happen next. "I've always been into music. I used to be in a few bands when I was younger and have written a lot of my own music," he said. "I don't have any expectations. I would love to be able to write songs for other artists but if nothing else happens, then it was fun while it lasted.” Image source: BBC