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North Charleston High School principal Henry Darby has gone above and beyond to make sure his students have what they need. After learning of the tremendous economic hardships some of his students face, Darby took it upon himself to get a second job at Walmart in an effort to help. Three nights a week, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., he works the overnight shift stocking shelves in order to provide funds for students to pay bills or tuition and buy food. Though Darby now finds himself at the center of a viral moment, he initially intended on keeping news of his night job to himself. In an interview with WCBD, Darby explained he “simply wanted to work for Walmart without fanfare and use those resources for [his] students.” In a community where 90% of families fall below the poverty line, Darby’s efforts to help do not go unfelt. He has donated $2,500 to the community as of late, which makes up about half of his Walmart earnings. The other half he plans to donate after taxes are returned. Darby’s incredible work ethic has inspired many, but most notably his students. "I knew of some students who thought working at Walmart was beneath them," said Darby in a statement to the Charleston County School District. "Now that the students have learned about me working there, several have applied and are employed alongside me." As news of this selfless principle’s story began to spread around the community, a GoFundMe page that has since raised over $150,000 was started in support of Darby’s efforts. And, to add to it all, Walmart gifted Darby a $50,000 donation live on the Today show last week. Darby finds himself more motivated than ever to continue his work. "If we can't help one another, then who can we help? I will keep on working at Walmart. My efforts are genuine and not for show. In spite of all the dollars we have accumulated, I plan to stay on," he said in a statement to Southern Living. Henry Darby’s hard work, compassion, and generous spirit has inspired people all across the nation and serves as a wonderful reminder of the incredible chain reaction that can occur through a single act of selflessness.  

Using technology similar to that of a home pregnancy test, scientists are working to develop a face mask that could visually detect if someone has COVID-19. People who are infected with the COVID-19 exhale biomarkers called proteases (or enzymes that work to break down proteins) that directly relate back to the virus. It is with this in mind that scientist at the University of California San Diego got to work on creating a visual sensor that can be attached to masks. The designed sensor is comprised of a small strip with a liquid-pack compartment. The surface of the strip collects the particles when a person exhales through the mask. When a user wishes to test their exhaled particles, they would simply break the pack compartment, which would mix a nanoparticle substance with any proteases on the strip. If COVID-19 proteases are present, the strip would change color and one would then know if they had the virus. Though an incredibly promising piece of technology, researchers do say that this will likely not replace complete PCR tests. “Think of this as a surveillance approach, similar to having a smoke detector in your house,” Jesse Jokerst, a professor of nanoengineering at UC San Diego and the lead researcher on this project said in a press release. “This would just sit in the background every day and if it gets triggered, then you know there’s a problem and that’s when you would look into it with more sophisticated testing. We want this to be affordable enough for daily testing.” Remarkably, researchers are thinking that these strips could be produced for only a few cents a pop, making this one of, if not the most, cost-effective testing mechanism to date. The potential accessibility of such technology is an exciting prospect and may be one easy way for us all to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

While on daytrip to the Rockefeller State Park Reserve, bird-watcher Becky DePorte received a text from a friend – a picture of a snowy owl in the middle of Central Park. 45 minutes later, DePorte found herself back in Manhattan – along with other, fellow birders – snapping pictures of the creature that have since gone viral. At the time, DePorte was unaware of the fact that this was the first sighting of a snowy owl in Central Park in 130 years; or that this was likely the first time the owl had been photographed in Manhattan. Snowy owls have been spotted every year around the Northern Lakes and the Northeast during the winter months. There are years, however, where a big irruption event causes a larger number of birds to migrate down from the Artic, which allows for more sightings in a wider range of places. Some of the rarest Snowy Owl sightings have occurred in Bermuda and Florida of all places. Scott Weidensaul, who co-founded Project SNOWstorm to track snowy owls and study their movements explained that he wouldn’t be surprised if another snowy owl had been in Central Park in between the documented 1890 spotting and January 27th. In a statement to the USA Today, Weidensaul explained that, "The surprising thing about this one is that [the owl] ended up in Central Park in the day for long enough for someone to spot it." Many have wondered when and if they might be able to spot the allusive owl again in the city. Unfortunately, there is no clear answer. Researchers say that it is just as likely that another snowy owl appears in Manhattan today as it is that another sighting occurs 130 years from now – this species is just really unpredictable. Though likely just a fluke occurrence, the owls brief visit has given city dwellers a reason to smile amid this pandemic-winter, with many hoping to catch glimpse of this allusive creature sometime in the not-so-distant future.

“She’ll always be a trailblazer,” Gerry Austin of the NFL told ESPN back in 2015. The trailblazer he was referring to is Sarah Thomas, the now 47-year-old who recently became the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl game. Sarah Thomas grew up surrounded by sports. As an athlete herself, and having brothers who played football, she was drawn to the camaraderie and competition. Thomas played basketball during her time at the University of Mobile, and when she graduated, she was determined to combine her love of sports and her career. Following graduation, Thomas attended an officiating meeting with her brother, who was a high school football referee. She was hooked. "These guys actually get together and discuss rules and what-if scenarios and plays that happen and challenge each other," she told ET. "I felt that I could give back in a sense to just organized sports. I love sports. But this football officiating thing took off." Thomas started small, officiating elementary and high school football games. She continued to excel, as her dedication and commitment to the sport led her to becoming the first woman to officiate a major college football game, and it did not stop there. In 2015, Thomas, a mother of three, became the first woman to hold a full-time permanent job at the NFL. She continued to strive to be the best in the field, and in January 2021, she was asked to officiate the Super Bowl, making her the first woman to be appointed to the position in NFL history. In a statement to ET, Thomas says, "It's just so meaningful. I never set out to be the first, at all, in any of this...But knowing the impact I'm having on, not just my daughter, but young girls everywhere, women everywhere. And I have to add in young men and men too. I have two precious young men that I'm raising to be a partner with their spouse and respect [that] she's a hardworking woman." Troy Vincent of the NFL said in a statement, “Her elite performance and commitment to excellence has earned her the right to officiate the Super Bowl.” While she may have been focusing on being the best in her field, rather than the first, she has certainly achieved both, breaking barriers with her seminal achievements, regardless of gender.

Forced to re-model their business plan because of the pandemic, Mark and Karen Heuwetter, co-founders of the brewery in Huntington, New York thought that bringing dogs and customers together during deliveries would be a fun experience for all. “Prior to Covid, the dogs were typically at the brewery greeting customers” says Karen Heuwetter. “We knew people missed them and frankly the dogs missed our customers!” Remembering the St. Bernard who carried whiskey around its neck, the Heuwetters were inspired to put the dogs to work, and the goldens were more than happy to oblige. “The golden retriever is naturally loyal and loves to be with people” Heuwetters says.  “When we let them out of the car they instinctively want to be with the people they see in the distance.  They run straight from the car to the front door.” During deliveries, the humans, wearing masks and gloves, carry the beer while the dogs jump out to greet customers with their beer accessories. Seeking treats, hugs, and pets, the dogs quickly became a huge hit. “People smile and even laugh the moment they see the dogs running up their sidewalk - it's a fast transaction but it always leaves everyone with a warm heart” says Heuwetters. Much to the delight of customers of the brewery, the end of the pandemic will not be the end of the ‘Brew Dogs.’ The brewery is dog-friendly, and even encourages customers to bring their dogs to hang out while the humans share a beer.

Jordan’s $2 million donation represents a significant portion of the profits he has amassed from his docuseries, “The Last Dance.” His large gift to Feeding America will help local food banks in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Chicago. Feeding America is a nonprofit organization responsible for operating more than 200 food banks. They currently serve 46 million Americans. According to the charity, 1 in 9 people struggle with hunger in the United States. The numbers of those facing food insecurity continue to rise as unemployment rates spike upward in the face of the pandemic. Invoking Feeding America’s $1=10 meals promise, the NBA legend will be responsible for providing 20 million meals. With his generosity and empathy, Jordan reminds us all of the importance of giving back. In the statement announcing his huge donation, Jordan also stated, “In these challenging times and in a year of unimaginable difficulty due to Covid-19, it’s more important than ever to pause and give thanks." Feeding America was especially appreciative and grateful, tweeting, “An incredible gift to be thankful for- NBA legend Michael Jordan is donating $2 million to help our neighbors facing hunger! #TheLastDance. Every action makes a difference. Join Michael & visit FeedingAmerica.org/COVID19 to learn how you can donate or volunteer this holiday season. While we might not all have the funds to finance Feeding America monetarily, there are other ways to donate, whether it be time, ideas, or event planning. Jordan’s philanthropic pursuits did not begin in 2020 and likely will continue for years to come. His charitable activities are especially significant in the areas of Chicago, Illinois, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Ranging from donations to hospitals and clinics, the Special Olympics, the NAACP, and Youth Programs, Jordan’s goal is clear: do good. Most recently, he pledged to donate $100 million over the next ten years to organizations dedicated to fighting for racial equality. He is using his wealth and influence to make the world a better place. While he will always be known for the baskets he’s made, his legacy survives among those whom he has given aid. 

Animal lovers and fur-babies alike are celebrating more than the return of presidential pets to the White House after four years.  President Biden’s young German shepherd, Major, has made history as the first rescue pet to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, marking a monumental moment for shelter dogs. To celebrate this milestone, the Delaware Humane Association and Pumpkin Pet Insurance co-hosted a virtual “indoguration” event on January 17^th stating, “Major Biden is barking proof that every dog can live the American dream.”  The event, hosted on Zoom, had over 7400 attendees and raised $200k in donations, which the rescue organization plans to use to continue raising awareness about local animal shelters, and to support pet owners struggling to care for their fur-babies during the COVID pandemic. Major’s story goes back to 2018, when a liter of six sick German Shephard puppies arrived at the Delaware Humane Association (DHA).  “They had gotten into a toxic substance. We’re not sure what,” Patrick Carroll, executive director at DHA, told NPR. After being treated at the shelter, the puppies soon recovered, and the Delaware Humane Association began their search for foster homes. When Ashley Biden came across DHA’s Facebook post about the German shepherd pups in need of homes, she shared it with Joe Biden, who had been looking for a companion for their older German shepherd, Champ.  On Easter morning, Biden showed up at the shelter and was united with, the now “first dog,” who we know as Major. "This is shining a light on all of the resources animal shelters bring to a community," Carroll said. "If you need pet food because you're struggling, or you need low cost vaccinations to keep your pet healthy, all the things people need, they should see their shelter as a resource.”