Listen to the Music Playing

Rockaway, NY suffered major damage, in October 2012, due to Hurricane Sandy.

With the memories still fresh of their catastrophe, this week, the residents of the community thought of the devastated villages in the Philippines and organized a concert featuring several bands in order to raise funds to be sent to the typhoon torn areas. Team Rubicon is in charge of the distribution of funds. This is the same organization that helped Rockaway residents during their time of need, and the residents have not forgotten it.

You don't have to go to the concert to donate money. Just go to the Team Rubicon page and click on their link or  click here.

Raising Money for a Cause

There are several fund raising opportunities throughout the year and each to benefit various groups or individuals.

The one that has just taken place in Rome, GA was the Charity Wreath Auction and it has raised money to be donated to area cancer patients and their families. A lot of work went into creating the wreaths but the cause made it worth it.

In Charleston, WV the Salvation Army is accepting donations to help "a father build a livable home." After suffering major setbacks, due to the illness of one of his children, this husband and father is doing all he can to improve conditions for his wife and children. This is an inspirational story with a good ending.

My parents always say, "Above all health! When you are healthy, you can do anything you want and need to do!" How true are these words. Sometimes, those of us who are healthy, take this blessing for granted. May we never do that again and may we reach out to those who need a word of comfort and a helping hand.

A Different Kind of Stuffing

Today, Americans celebrate the Thanksgiving Holiday complete with turkey, vegetables, rolls, dessert, and... the stuffing!

Here is a young lady whose stuffing has a total different outcome than your seasonal one. Hers is fluffy and made to snuggle! It fills not a turkey but a bear, a teddy bear, to be precise. Her story is inspiring and brings hope not only to the children in the hospital but to a world that, at times, seems to have lots its humanity.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and thank you Nina Manuel for your service, kindness, and generosity.

And remember, you don't have to be American to be thankful for your blessings and to find a way to bless others around you.

A Different Kind of Dinner

I have been posting about dinners to feed the community during the Thanksgiving Holidays.

This is about another kind of dinner. It is one with and admission charge because all the proceeds will then benefit a Christmas toys and clothes drive for children. This dinner was held last Sunday in Renville County, ND. If you want to read the whole story and will click on the link, you will need to scroll to the second article.

On a total different subject, in Prescott, AZ a small group raised money for breast cancer research. Each of the five participants had a different reason for their involvement with the project but all five had the same final goal. Their success has already them thinking about next year's finish line.

There are many worthwhile causes and events throughout the year. What if we each found something we could help with, either financially or by giving of our time, talents, and efforts?

As Mother Teresa said, "Never worry about numbers. Help one person at the time and always start with the person nearest you."

Feeding the Community

The Cartersville community held its yearly Feed the Community Dinner two days ago. They served a Thanksgiving style dinner to about 1,500 people. Along with a warm meal, they offered other services, free of charge to the attendees.

Rome will host its community dinner on Thanksgiving day. Other communities may have already done theirs as well or will be offering it in the next couple of days.

Along with the Thanksgiving dinner, let us not forget the countless meals prepared every week by churches all around the community to feed the poor of the area. These events no longer make the news, but they are a reminder that kindness and service do exist on weeks other than Thanksgiving week.

If you have never helped with these types of events, don't worry. You can start now. One can of peas, or corn, etc. may not seem much, but along with other donated items will be enough to feed those less fortunate.

If finances do not allow you to donate food, perhaps you can donate some of your time. There are many worthwhile volunteer opportunities. 

Together, as members of our community, we can make a difference and make the world a better place, one community at the time.

Positive Stories

As I was searching for positive stories to share, I stumbled upon a series of websites that publish good news.

I was surprised and happy.

I did not think I was the only one with the desire to find uplifting news to share, but I did not realize that there were this many.
So, for today, I am going to link you to those sites in hope that you will be able to find stories to help you start your day right and get you the charge you need to go forth with a contagiously positive attitude, no matter what your circumstances are.

Make a Hero. This website is focused on inspiring individuals with disabilities and overcoming limitations.

Bringing Hope Home. Especially for people and families who have dealt or deal with cancer.

Huffpost Good News. Many of us may be familiar with Huffington Post. This is their good news version. There are stories for everyone.

ABC Good News. Even the famous abc NEWS reports on good news.

Happy News. Their caption reads: Real News. Compelling Stories. Always Positive.

Daily Good for news that inspires.

Sunny Skyz. Only positive and uplifting news for you to start off your day.

Good News Network. Geri Weis-Corbley has been delivering good news since the late 90s. Read all about her purpose for her website and then read the news she shares.

TODAY Good News. Videos and stories are yours to watch and read.

I have only quickly looked at the first page of these websites, but the amazing thing is that I don't recall seeing the same information on any of them.
This is uplifting on its own as it makes you realize that there is still good in the world.

Some of these are stories of survival. Some are stories of unselfishness. And then there are others of different kind. All of them can bring a ray of sunshine in your day.

So, if you are looking to recharge your mood, put down the coffee and dive into the good news :)

The Good Samaritan

Meet Joel Hartman. He lost his wife whom he loved very much; he lost everything else  he had and he is now homeless.

In spite of his fate, he has kept his integrity and when he found a wallet belonging to a tourist, he returned it and walked away.

The article's headline focuses on the hotel in Atlanta, where the tourist is staying, offering Hartman a room, but the real story is about Joel. He has nothing, yet he returns something of value instead of going on a shopping spree.

He is not the first homeless individual to have shown integrity. Even if in dire need, these individuals have done the right thing.

This past September, in Boston, a homeless man returns a backpack full of money.
In February, a Missouri homeless man returns a diamond ring which had been mistakenly donated to him.

If you had been in their shoes, what would you have done?

Operation Christmas Child

For many of us, Christmas gifts are a given. Some people may have already begun their shopping; others may be waiting for Black Friday to begin.

For many others, though, Christmas gifts are not a given. Finances and/or health issues make these gifts just a wish and nothing more.

The good news is that there are organizations all across the globe to help make Christmas gifts a reality for some of these individuals, especially children.
Operation Christmas Child has begun its box packing. With the help of volunteer, boxes are packed with things many of us take for granted but mean the world to these children. Click on the above link to read the "Positive Headline" for the day.

If you can, consider purchasing something that can be donated to any organizations who bring a smile to these children on Christmas morning.

If you cannot afford a gift, consider donating some of your time to help pack boxes or distribute them.

You can make the difference and create a "Positive Headline" of your own!

Tangelo Park Program

This was not found in a newspaper but on Facebook.
It is not recent news but it is still positive and it warms the heart.

The article is about Harris Rosen and his philanthropic works, especially the Tangelo Park Program aimed to help children of that community stay in school and continue their education all the way through college.

Many of us do not have the means to follow in Rosen's footsteps, but we can mentor and tutor those children who otherwise would have no support.

Money Raised

Today we start with Bethel, CT., with an article which was posted on the 17th.
A group of children sold lemonade in order to raise funds to be donated to a non-profit organization for children with life threatening and serious illnesses.

More than once children have stepped up and done amazing things to help others. I challenge each of us to find a way to reach out and make a difference in someone's life.

Anchorage, AK is next. The American Legion Post No. 1 has raised money to donate to the Alaska National Guard's Operation Santa Claus aimed to support "remote Alaskan villages during the holiday season."

Do you have something positive to share? It does not have to be a headline in the paper. You can make your own personal experience a "Positive Headline!"

Victory Bowl

I don't ever follow sports or sport teams, but this article caught my eye.

Victory Bowl schools are challenging each other not only on the field but also on the streets by trying to collect food items to be donated to the local community kitchen.

This next event happened almost two weeks ago, but I saw it today for the first time. A 92 years old gentleman shields a young girl as a horse tramples over them. Watch the video found on the GodVine.

Have you done any good today?

"Let It Snow"

Tonight we go to Arizona for our positive headlines!

Two local Ahwatukee, AZ artists decorated and donated a Christmas tree to a Child Crisis Center and the MANA House respectively. This is a project that started several years back and is still going strong :)
Have you ever thought of decorating a Christmas tree and donating it to a local organization to give residents a brighter Christmas? Well, you can always start with this Christmas!

A Good Samaritan in Phoenix comes to the aid of a woman pinned under her car.
This happened a week ago but today the police was able to find the Good Samaritan, although no name was released.
It feels great to know that there are still people who do what they can to help when emergencies arise. Kudos to you, Good Samaritan, for helping out!

"A Brush with Kindness"

The story today involves volunteers with Habitat for Humanity as they apply a fresh coat of paint as part of their project "A Brush with Kindness."
According to the paper, "Habitat's ongoing "A Brush with Kindness" project helps homeowners in need repaint the outside of their home."


The next account is from Clay County, Mississippi. It is a different brush with kindness and one that is frequently heard of as Thanksgiving approaches: More than 2000 were served a Thanksgiving feast.

Have you heard of any feel good stories today in your area?

Bringing Warmth

I found the article in our local newspaper and I thought it was going to be a great candidate for this blog.

As winter approaches, a local student is gearing up, for the fourth year in a row, to collect blankets and quilts to donate to local needy families.

Up next, from Midvale, UT... teenage volunteers brought lunch and warm winter coats to residents of The Road Home's community Winter Shelter Saturday.

It may be easier for me to find articles during these next two months, because of the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, than the rest of the year. None the less, I am going to do my best to daily find uplifting news to share with you.

If nothing else, get out there, do something nice, and then report it to me that I might publish it here :)

May the spirit of giving, kindness, and love be with you now and the rest of the year, and may you find this blog to bring hope and light into your life.

Positive Headlines

I decided I was going to create a blog dedicated to positive news...

In a world overwhelmed by negative things (wars, natural disasters, murders, deceit, ...) there is need for something positive to help us believe there is still good in it, because there is.

It is just hard to find and focus on the positive when majority of information is down right depressing! Hence, I figured that if I could create a blog where one could find uplifting news, and only uplifting news, it was worth the work of sifting through gloomy information.

Please feel free to contact me with your positive news that I might include it in the blog and, hopefully, bring a ray of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy day!