Retired grandparents Jeanne and Burt Metz lost their home when Superstorm Sandy hit Breezy Point, New York. A volunteer organization told the couple that their floors and walls would be rebuilt – but little did the Metz family know that hundreds of people were working to resurrect their entire house.
Dozens of homeless Milwaukeeans are improving their self-esteem with professional portraits from Help-Portrait Milwaukee, a local branch of the global initiative that arranges for photography sessions to benefit those in need. Worldwide, more than 200,000 portraits have been taken by more than 16,000 volunteer photographers in 60 countries, according to the international organization.
After living through Hurricane Katrina six years ago, New Orleans firefighters recalled the help provided by New York City Firefighters, who arrived on the seen within days of the Louisiana levees breaking. Now they are repaying the favor, clearing out tons of debris in homes of firefighters whose Breezy Point homes were flooded.
At least four Facebook pages were created to reunite people with photographs, kayaks, wedding invitations and other cherished mementos they thought were lost during Superstorm Sandy. The sites have reunited a woman with her wedding dress, an urn containing cremated ashes with a loved one, a mother with a baby album and the congregation of St. Elisabeth's Chapel-by-the Sea in Ortley Beach, which was destroyed by the storm, with a plaque bearing names.
Massive wildfires have blackened about a million acres in southeast Oregon, killing countless cattle and horses and leaving no grazing land for struggling ranches that remain. But help is on the way to struggling ranchers from the business community and fellow cattlemen. A convoy of 17 donated tractor-trailer trucks loaded with 500 tons of hay left Burns, Oregon yesterday morning in route to fire-affected families and businesses.
Jim Cotter was so sad after losing his wife last year that he needed to find something to do. He decided to spruce up his community -- by painting everything in sight. Well, the idea has really caught on. The once-thriving coal community of Glouster, Ohio had been peeling - and unappealing - for years. Now it glistens, every fence, building and guardrail.
There is an extraordinary sign on the outside of a well-tended West Yorkshire vegetable garden: Help yourself. It is part of the sharing revolution across the UK.
It wasn't a veteran detective or even a full-time cop who finally caught the man suspected of lighting 52 fires in Los Angeles last week. The hero is an Iranian-born real estate attorney by day, who patrols the LA streets by night as a reserve deputy working for the sheriff's office on nearly a volunteer-basis.
Operation Santa Claus, hidden away in New York City's main Post Office, lets donors become elves fulfilling wishes expressed by needy children in their letters to Santa. Across the US, 75 Post Offices are helping, six times many as last year.
The group Sweet Blessings has a vision of bringing memorable birthdays to children in need. The volunteer program has hand-delivered unforgettable gourmet birthday cakes to kids aged 5-14 living in poverty or experiencing life threatening illness.
American Volunteers increased the number of hours they contributed to their communities last year, whether tutoring and mentoring students, fundraising, job training or assisting during natural disasters -- 8.1 billion hours in 2010.
While everyone watches Hurricane Irene's next move along the eastern seaboard, hundreds of people from around the US are helping organize relief efforts. The help is arriving not only from geographically diverse regions, but also from diverse religious communities, as a Muslim relief agency stands ready to deploy in the emergency response.
Young American volunteers marked Independence Day by continuing their remarkable clean up on behalf of Japan's tsunami survivors. And, their American-style celebration helped to lift the spirits of the struggling community there.
Jeff Parness, like many New Yorkers, was changed by the terrorist attacks on 9/11. He lost a good friend when the Twin Towers fell, but also was deeply moved by the support the city received from across the nation following the attack. In 2004, he established New York Says Thank You, a nonprofit that sends volunteers from NYC, particularly the city's beloved firefighters, to help rebuild other disaster-stricken communities in the U.S. every September.
Wael Ghonim, the Google executive who became the hero of the Egyptian revolution, on Sunday said he planned to take an extended break from the Internet giant to set up his own NGO in Egypt. He said his technology focused NGO will help fight poverty & foster education in Egypt.
A year ago, an earthquake in southern Chile devastated towns, flattening fire stations and equipment that could have been used in the rescue efforts. This week, an Illinois pastor has mobilized 10 Chicago-area firefighters who will travel to the South American country to train about 100 firefighters, bringing along discarded but usable firefighting gear.
A pastor had called me and asked if I could visit a man who was in the hospital. He completely broke down and was threatening to shoot his entire family.
I don't know if my time spent with Gus did any good. If he stopped stealing and lying, but I know he will think back to these days and remember them. I did not 'have' to do what I was doing but I'm sure glad that I did. The ripple effect could go far on this one.
The Unsung app will let restaurants, stores, and individuals use the "sharing economy" to deliver unused food to people in need.
This mom cooks nutritious food for hospitalized kids with cancer when they are least likely to care about eating at all, much less choosing foods that heal.
Recent Stories
A Heartfelt Reminder to Appreciate the Ones We Love
Cherish the Woman Who Stands by You
Breaking Generational Cycles of Pain
Living by Your Own Values, Not Others' Approval
When Life Brings Rain, It’s Okay to Rest
Before You Judge Someone's Life, Take a Moment to Walk in Their Shoes.
A Friend Who Spreads Gossip is Not a True Friend at All
The Value of Human Connection Over Digital Convenience
The Quiet Kind of Love
One Day, Your Mom Won’t Call You Anymore
I’ve reached a point in my life...
Happiness is a mindset, a conscious choice we make every day