Over the last two weeks Americans have seen the worst in partisan politics, but the government shutdown has also triggered the generosity of ordinary citizens. Americans have stepped in to fill some of the needs that the government normally fulfills. From Colorado to Atlanta, Arizona to Florida, let's take a look at America at its best.
The bill was $27.75, her reward for paying it was far greater. Sarah Hoidahl, a New Hampshire waitress, even though she is a single mom living on tips, bought lunch for two National Guard service members who were furloughed recently in the government shutdown. The Guardswomen posted the kind note they received from Sarah on Facebook from which thousands of people were inspired -- including the Ellen Show producers.
Disappointed when he took some boy scouts to gaze at the stars but clouds quickly obscured them, a Wisconsin man decided to open his own planetarium using the money he earned while working at a local paper mill. Frank Kovac built the planetarium himself -- a huge spherical structure in the backyard -- and painted 5000 stars, each with the correct brightness, resulting in a spectacular replica of the entire northern night sky.
Casey Baynes understands on a very personal level that no child wants to feel like they're different. At a young age, teachers told Casey that her dyslexia would make academics more difficult. Despite the obvious challenges that come with a learning disorder, Casey had very high expectations for herself and worked hard to reach and then exceed them. She received her Associate's degree before graduating high school and went on to become Towson University's youngest Master's Degree recipient at age 20.
A former gang member who was arrested 13 times has become Atlanta's hottest lawyer, proving that youth are not the lost cause some think.
Colorado deputies are being hailed after saving a man who had a heart attack while shoveling a driveway–but it's what they did later that is being cheered.
It means a lot when any soldier receives a package from the U.S. loaded with treats to remind him of home. 82 year-old Don Downer has sent more than 1,400 such packages to American troops deployed overseas and was honored in Maryland recently as Howard County's Volunteer of the Year.
A New Hampshire Police Officer, Jeffrey Wholley, responded to a shoplifting complaint against a 32-year-old man with four sandwiches in his coat valued at $9.16. The man was homeless and hungry. After consulting with his sergeant, as well as the Laconia Cumberland Farms store which issued the call, Wholley decided to refrain from prosecuting the man. He then purchased the sandwiches for the man so he would have something to eat.
Richard Semmler, a mathematics professor at Northern Virginia Community College, works two jobs to earn enough money to give away half of the $100,000 income he earns each year. In addition to his monetary donations, Mr. Semmler volunteers every Monday night to help serve meals at the Central Union Mission, in Washington, DC.
Doris Buffett is 81 and has the kind of reputation money can buy. She's given away a fortune -- over $80 million -- and wants to keep giving until it's all gone. Her money comes from her mother's investment funds managed by her little brother, Warren Buffet, known as the Oracle of Omaha.
For the past four years, Dallas, Texas, native Brad Blauser has been providing hope to hundreds of disabled Iraqi children and their families through the distribution of pediatric wheelchairs -- nearly 650 of them at no cost.
17-year-old Danielle Galloway grew up homeless in Atlanta bouncing from shelter to shelter and attending 10 different schools. But now she is she has graduating in the top 25% of her high school class. And she's won a full scholarship to Boston University.