Sometimes the news can be, well, not so inspiring. When headlines get you down, it’s important to remember that positive things are still happening all around us. Here are five hopeful and encouraging stories to pay attention to this week:
Penguins Go on a Field Trip
Ready for the cutest news in the time of the coronavirus? After being shut down to visitors, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium allowed their colony of penguins to go on a field trip. Penguins need treats and activities to keep them active and inquisitive, therefore they loved having the ability to wander and see the sights. One of the Rockhopper penguins loved watching the freshwater fish in particular. If you’d like to watch more of these penguin adventures, you can check out the Shedd Aquarium’s Instagram page. Read more.
Shopping Angels Help Sick and Elderly with Shopping Needs
With the growing pandemic, grocery shopping can be a scary experience for the elderly and the sick. Pre-med student, Jayde Powell, has found a solution. With the help of her medical fraternity, she has started “Shopping Angels” — a national group of volunteers who grocery shop for individuals who currently cannot leave their house. Powell has even created a GoFundMe for people who want to donate to help provide essentials for individuals who currently cannot. Read more.
Siblings Perform Private Concert for a Self-Isolating Neighbor
You may have heard of the singing from balconies in Italy, now you can enjoy a concert on a porch in Ohio. When two young siblings heard that their elderly neighbor was self-isolating, they decided to treat her to a private concert. Dressed to the nines in a suit and a dress, the pair took their cellos to their neighbor’s front porch and treated her to about half an hour of classical music. The elderly neighbor who had decided to self-isolate said “it was so delightful.” Read more.
Bedtime Stories in the Time of Corona
Actor Josh Gad, voice of the beloved “Frozen” character, Olaf, is doing something great for children (and their parents!) during this time of quarantine and social distancing. Each night on Twitter, he reads a different children’s book to kids around the world. So far, the star has read “Olivia Goes to Venice,” “The Day the Crayons Quit,” “The Giving Tree,” and others. He plans to continue reading books for as long as necessary. Read more.
College Student Creates Community Center for Local Teens
For most of his childhood, Chris Sugg’s hometown of Kinston, North Carolina was one of the most economically distressed communities in his entire state. They were experiencing frequent shootings and a persistent lack of safety. So, the then-14-year-old took the situation into his own hands and established Kinston Teens. Kinston Teens works to provide young people with leadership and service opportunities in order to have a positive impact on their own community. Now, six years later, Suggs is once again working to improve his community. Recently, he bought a house that was set to be demolished in order to turn it into a community center. Read more.