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:
New Delivery Service Accepts Tips, Belly Rubs
If you happen to be in Medellin, Columbia, there is no need to venture out to the grocery store. Instead, you can summon 8-year-old black lab Eros for your pantry’s needs. Eros is the family dog of the owners ofEl Porvenir mini-market. Now, in times of COVID-19, they are able to maintain social distance while delivering orders … thanks to Eros. With a brown basket in his mouth, he carries groceries to customers around town. Eros works for tips, just like other delivery service people. According to his owner, Eros is “quite a glutton. He won’t leave your house until you give him a treat.” Read more.
Little Kid, Big Change
After noticing a lack of diversity in both children’s books and coloring crayons, 7-year old Madison Wilson decided it was time for a change. To introduce more diversity into classrooms in her home state of California, she launched a school supplies fundraiser. For every $2,500 raised, Madison donated 15 books and 25 boxes of the “Colors of The World” Crayola crayons. Madison also raised money and gave a speech at her town’s Juneteenth celebration. As of today, she has raised over $7,000 for school materials. Madison proves that no one is too young to make change. Read more.
The Newest Pandemic Symptom? Green Thumbs.
So you’ve already baked sourdough bread, pizza dough, scones, and cinnamon buns? And you don’t know what your next pandemic hobby should be? Try gardening! According to seed company Burpee, gardening is at an all-time high during the pandemic. Burpee recently announced that they “sold more seed packets this spring than any time in the company’s 144-year history.” While it is getting hotter all across the country, it is not too late to try out your green thumb. There are plenty of seeds that can be planted during hotter months. Just hit up Google (or better yet, check out your local greenhouse) to learn what is best to plant in your own backyard! Read more.
Back to School: Local Bus Driver Is Inspired by His Students
After being inspired and encouraged by his students, a school bus driver in Massachusetts just completed his associate’s degree! Clayton Ward considered himself a “burnout” when it came to school, that is, until the students he drove gave him the push he needed to go back to school to become a teacher. Ward was inspired by the conversations he would have with students while driving them home. The students would tell Ward that they wished he was their teacher, and encouraged him to become one. Ward gave special thanks to those high school students who constantly encouraged him to go back to school. On Tuesday, Ward was on CBS News to share a message with the high schoolers who inspired him: he’s graduated and plans to eventually become a teacher in their district. Read more.
Service Through Sewing
After learning to sew at the age of 8, the now 11-year-old, Lucy Blaylock is on a mission to bring comfort to kids. Lucy wanted to use her new skill to help kids in need. She reached out on social media and offered to make a blanket for kids who were going through difficult circumstances. After receiving many messages, Lucy decided she could not make just one and went to work making a blanket for each kid. As of now, she has made 500 blankets for kids in 14 different countries, each taking two hours to sew. Once the pandemic hit, she also quickly made over 1,100 masks to donate to those in need. Due to her kind actions, Lucy received a presidential volunteer service award and spirit of community award. Lucy is making the world a better place, one blanket (or mask!) at a time. Read more.