Good News Stories

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Paul McCartney has been reunited with a bass guitar that had been missing for more than 50 years, the New York Times reports.

• The Höfner 500/1 bass can be heard on many of the Beatles' earliest hits, but went missing sometime around the recording of "Let It Be," in 1969.
• After multiple searches and any number of wild theories, the instrument turned out to be stashed away in a family's loft, close to where it was last seen. The family called it in after a new search effort raised awareness of the missing bass.

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More Than A Dozen Good Samaritans Save Mother And Two Young Kids From Getting Kidnapped

Although it is unfortunate that terrible things happen in the world, it is incredible when people stand together against them. That is exactly what happened in Florida. When more than a dozen good Samaritans banded together to save a mother and her two kids from getting kidnapped.

https://www.wideopencountry.com/more-than-a-dozen-good-samaritans-save-mother-and-two-young-kids-from-getting-kidnapped/

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A new heart and new friendship

One parent transformed her grief into a life-saving act of love. Fourteen years ago, when she was 3 weeks old, Addison McArthur needed a heart transplant — the left side of her heart stopped working, a condition that would’ve been fatal if untreated. Enter Felicia Hill, the mother of a baby girl named Audrey who died shortly after birth. Hill agreed to donate Audrey’s organs, including her heart, which was transplanted into Addison and allowed her to live.    Addison’s mother Elaine Yong sent a letter to Hill without knowing her identity to thank her. What grew from there became a 14-year friendship between Hill, Yong and young Addison. Yong brought Hill a stethoscope so she could hear her late daughter’s heart beating in Addison’s chest. Both women have since become advocates for organ donation. Addison calls Hill her “Auntie Felicia,” and even though they live in different countries — the US for Hill, Canada for Addison and Yong — they still reunite regularly for Addison’s swim and track meets. At the end of this month, they’ll celebrate what would’ve been Audrey’s birthday.    April is also National Donate Life Month, the time of year when we celebrate the incredible donors who’ve saved countless lives and encourage others to become organ donors. An organ transplant saved Addison’s life — here’s to the people whose tremendous compassion has given others a chance to thrive. A honking rescue Geese are some of our most headstrong birds — if the honkers decide to make a nest on the fourth-story patio of a swanky hotel even though there’s a perfectly fine pond on ground level, good luck convincing them to move. An Atlanta goose couple settled on the hotel patio to raise their goslings in the lap of luxury. The only problem — baby goslings can’t fly, and there wasn’t a safe way down for the youngins to make it to water.    Enter AWARE, an Atlanta wildlife rehabilitation group that successfully rehomed both parents and their five babies to the pond below. It took some strategic coaxing — Father Goose fled the scene when he realized he was being forced out of his lux accommodations. Mother Goose, luckily, was easier to catch — she wanted to stay with her babes. The family was quickly reunited down at the pond with nary a feather out of place.   But what really moves me about this story is that I know these geese! I live a few blocks from their new digs. The downy little goslings are getting bigger and less yellow every day, and it’s been a delight to observe them (from a distance, of course; their parents won’t hesitate to chase).

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A whopping act of kindness

It all started as an outing for Whoppers. Mykale Baker, fresh from his high school graduation, stopped by the Georgia Burger King where he works to grab some burgers for his family. Seeing how short-staffed his coworkers were, Mykale jumped back behind the counter to assist — on his day off, no less, still wearing a crisp button-down shirt and all of the medals he’d earned at the ceremony hours earlier.   Maria Mendoza saw him in the drive-thru and her “whole world froze for a minute.” Her daughter Daisy had just graduated from the same high school as Mykale. Inspired by his generosity, Mendoza posted a TikTok of Mykale at work, singing to himself as he filled bags of fries. After more than one million people watched it, Mendoza set up a GoFundMe page for Mykale that has since raised nearly $200,000.   Mykale was planning on taking a gap year before college to save up. But going viral for working hard and the subsequent act of kindness has “changed (his) life dramatically,” he said. Here’s to you, Mykale and Maria — the King has probably never been prouder of his subjects.

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French man saves six people—including two infants—from an apartment fire while balancing on a ledge. (More, w/video)

 

Airline engineer recovers engagement ring diamond from luggage carousel. (More) 

 

Elementary school principal’s energy lights up the hallways. (More, w/video)

 

Chicago man rescues baby abandoned during carjacking, uses Facebook Live to reunite her with family. (More, w/video)

 

Former UNC quarterback Drake Maye and his wife donate their wedding gifts to a local shelter. (More)

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Breaking barriers: Orlando program teaches people with Down syndrome how to bike

Equipped with her bright pink helmet and red-rimmed glasses, 10-year-old Hazel Thomson sang the lyrics to “Keep Trying, You’ll Get Better,” as she drove a bicycle around a hall at the Orange County Convention Center.

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/26/breaking-barriers-orlando-program-teaches-people-with-down-syndrome-how-to-bike/?

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One family’s sacrifice saves a boy’s life

This one’s a heartbreaker with a beautiful ending. Two boys, Luca, age 2, and Felipe, just 1 year old, shared a hospital room in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Little Luca (pictured left) was in poor health after receiving a liver transplant, while Felipe remained on the waitlist for a new heart. When Luca’s parents found out their son wouldn’t survive, they immediately suggested to doctors that they donate Luca’s heart — and miraculously, Luca’s heart went to Felipe.    Now, baby Felipe is getting stronger and healthier every day. The boys’ time together was brief, but their families are forever connected through Luca’s final act that saved Felipe's life.   “I gave him a kiss on the heart and said, ‘Son, give life,’” Luca’s father, Nicolas, told CNN. “And he, like a warrior, kept fighting and made this possible.”

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More than 40 people join a father in a Chicago triathlon to raise money for Henry’s Heroes Foundation and honor his 13-year-old son. (More)

 

Savannah Bananas fulfill the dream of a boy with a rare genetic condition by allowing him to join the quirky baseball team for a day. (More, w/video)

 

Nine-year-old twins save a 4-year-old girl from drowning in a pool. (More) 

 

Mississippi monkey sanctuary comforts veterans with PTSD. (More)

 

Michigan public library encourages reading and community connection through innovative summer games. (More)

 

Grandmother becomes teary-eyed upon learning her granddaughter was named after her late son. (More, w/video)

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Young boy exudes happiness after he and his goat, Teddy Bear, win fourth place at a Texas goat show. (More, w/video)    British toy store founder hands ownership to his 1,900 employees, opening new opportunities for profit-sharing and influence over the brand's direction. (More)   Tween designer donates prom dresses and suits to students in need. (More)    Chicago Cubs invite a lifelong fan with terminal cancer to Wrigley Field. (More)   Dog leads a stranger to two individuals in need of medical assistance. (More)

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Woman seeking grandchildren becomes "Nana J" to two twin boys. (More)

 

Bride and groom, who met while working at a senior living center, invite the residents to their wedding. (More) 

 

Stepfather with no biological children learns his stepdaughter named her newborn after him. (More, w/video)

 

Eleven-year-old girl gets heart transplant after over 200 days in the hospital. (More) 

 

Citywide search reunites a blind Chicago man with his service and emotional support dog, Bam Bam. (More)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Roni P. in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

 

"While vacationing at Point Pleasant Beach, my daughter, grandson, and I stopped at Salty’s Inlet Ice Cream. We had never been there before but it looked inviting with nice outdoor seating. We were eating our ice cream, which was delicious, and the sky became quite dark and the wind started blowing. The owner came out to close the umbrellas and asked if we needed help to our car with the stroller. When we said we walked, he insisted his wife drive us home." 

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Truck-obsessed toddler joins his local sanitation crew for a day. (More, w/photos)

 

Musicians, politicians, and out-of-towners host an extravagant quinceañera for a shy teen after her first celebration was sparsely attended. (More) 

 

Young boy receives hearing aids, hears mother's voice for first time. (More, w/video)

 

Husband and wife, both with dementia, reunite after a year apart. (More, w/video) 

 

Minnesota pizzeria owner offers free slices to people eating from dumpster. (More)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Jade R. in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

 

"It was 7 pm and we'd been at the Minnesota State Fair since 9 am. We went to get the Amish glazed donuts but the line was an hour long. Just as we turned to leave, a man hands us two bags with donuts in them. He said it was his New Year's resolution to do random acts of kindness. We ate as much as we could but still had an untouched bag of donuts.  

 

"A lady walked by and asked if the donuts were good. We offered the extra bag to her but she said, 'You waited in line for an hour for those. I can't take them from you!' We told her our story and she gladly took them."

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Son builds mini Fenway Park in father's backyard to keep friendly rivalry alive amid father's health struggles. (More)

 

Legally blind quilter makes blankets for communities in need worldwide. (More) 

 

Army cadet and father rescue driver from burning car. (More, w/video) 

 

Trader Joe's donates 100% of unsold products from every location, daily. (More) 

 

A 71-year-old stranger pulls 98-year-old woman out of house fire. (More)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Pam S. in Ellenton, Florida.

 "I was in the local grocery store and saw a rather tall man reach deep into the back of the top shelf for a product. After he put it in his shopping cart, he reached back up and brought two bottles forward so the next person could easily reach it. I remarked how thoughtful that was of him and he said, 'I always try to pay it forward.'"

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Big Ten football coach makes players' mothers central to his program. (More)

 

Hospital gifts patient entering kindergarten "Thor"-inspired toy. (More, w/video) 

 

Author befriends group with young-onset dementia, honors them with book. (More)

 

Uber driver stays with college student through an emergency room visit, sparking a 7-year friendship. (More) 

 

Hell's Kitchen firefighters stand in for bride's father, a fellow firefighter who died on 9/11. (More, w/video)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Melissa H. in Locust Grove, Georgia.

 

"We are driving in lovely Ireland. Stopping to buy groceries, my husband couldn't find his wallet. He thought the only spot it could have come out of his pocket was a site a half hour behind us. We drove back and couldn't find it. Then we got a call from our son in the States saying he was contacted by someone on Instagram who found the wallet! Got in touch with them and they will mail it back to us."

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? 1 fun thing: First swim in a century

Chicagoans swam in the Chicago River yesterday. Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios  Hundreds of people jumped into the Chicago River yesterday for the first organized swim in the river in almost a century. Why it matters: The swim, which organizers have been trying to put together for years, comes after decades of industry neglect and even more decades of cleanup, Axios Chicago's Justin Kaufmann notes. Open swims and races in the Chicago River were once popular events in the early 1900s. The race this year raised money for ALS research.

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Thousands of Latter-day Saints raise over $300K for family of man who attacked Michigan church last weekend. (More)

 

... and friendship between a Unabomber's brother and victim helps both heal. (More) 

 

Oklahoma farm owners create corn maze to raise awareness about suicide prevention and to honor a lost friend. (More)

 

Bride honors mother-in-law by wearing her '80s-style wedding dress for first dance. (More)

 

New York Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo donates $30K worth of gear to high school football team his brother coaches. (More) 

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Nirmalendu B. in West Bengal, India.

 

"In 2021, when COVID was playing havoc in West Bengal (...), I could not go to the market for days. We were short of rations. One day I got a call from a young man who worked under me in a newspaper house for about a year and did not have any contact for years. He said, 'I am going to your house tomorrow. Please tell me what you want me to bring for you.' I told him to get us vegetables, rice, eggs, and many more items. The next morning, he came with all we needed."

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North Carolina baker delivers free birthday cakes to homeless neighbors. (More)

 

Home improvement chain Lowe’s leads interstate mission to find and return Francine the cat to her home, a store in Richmond, Virginia. (More) 

 

... and friends and family gather to celebrate the return of a dog that went missing a decade ago. (More) 

 

Missouri football player makes surprise homecoming proposal to friend with Down syndrome. (More)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Michelle P. in Farmington, CT.

 

"My husband and I attended a wedding celebration yesterday. My husband excused himself to go to the restroom, and all the other couples at the table got up to go to the dance floor. So, I was seated by myself. One of the bride's good friends from high school (whom I'd) never met before, sat down, noting that I was by myself. She introduced herself and initiated pleasant small talk. We figured out how we shared common bonds with the wedding couple. It was such a lovely gesture. She stayed until my husband returned. She is the bride's age, and I am the bride's mother's age."

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Mother dying of ALS, 39, creates two scrapbooks of advice and encouragement for sons, 7 and 9. (More)

 

Boca Raton man raises $4K to help homeless man find housing. (More) 

 

Country musician Jelly Roll lifts struggling street performer’s spirits with impromptu FaceTime duet. (More)

 

A stranger gifts Cal Raleigh's 60th home run baseball to young boy, who returns it to the Mariners for Raleigh, who then gifts the boy a signed bat. (More, w/video) 

 

Oklahoma girls basketball team returns championship title after discovering scoreboard error. (More)

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Ina P. in Chicago, IL.

 

"A friend of a friend of a friend asked if I could help a young man find a position in a Chicago restaurant while he was in culinary school. I spoke to the young man, read his resume, and determined that he was serious about a career in culinary. A chef friend interviewed him, agreed, and hired him.

 

"I went to the opening of that restaurant last night and had a chance to meet the young man in person. The chef brought him over to my table and said in front of him he was 'killing it on the line!' The young man took my hand in both of his and thanked me for changing the trajectory of his life. It doesn’t get any better than that."

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Furloughed federal workers eat for free at Jon Bon Jovi's New Jersey restaurant. (More)

 

... and Pennsylvania pizzeria gives free meals to kids in need while SNAP benefits are paused. (More)

 

Community honors fatally shot 18-year-old girl whose heart saved a 7-year-old. (More) 

 

Taylor Swift's $100K donation to 2-year-old battling rare brain cancer inspires chain reaction of donations. (More)

 

Chick-fil-A cashier compels deaf 4-year-old to sign his name for first time. (More, w/ video) 

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Kyla J. in Crete, Nebraska.

 

"My husband and I recently bought mums from a local vendor for my daughter's upcoming outdoor wedding. As we were loading mums into our vehicle, a younger man was loading mums into his truck. I asked if he also had a wedding, since his truck was full of the gorgeous flowers. He kind of laughed and said that actually in the early morning hours before anyone rises, he places them on porches of the elderly folks in his small town. So far he hadn't been caught. When I talked to the vendor after he left regarding his kindness, the vendor said he's been doing that for several years."

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Texas man thrifts clothes to make Halloween costumes for families in need. (More)

 

Elementary school teacher begins school days with uplifting morning chant. (More, w/video) 

 

Man in Blinking Guy meme taps into unsolicited fame to raise money for National Multiple Sclerosis Society. (More) 

 

Australian students design and 3D-print prosthetic hand for classmate born without one. (More)

 

Filmmaker transforms road trip dream, shared with a friend 67 years her senior, into award-winning animation. (More, w/video) 

 

Today, we're sharing a story from reader Mike W. in Hilton Head Island, SC.

 

"My brother found his long lost high school class ring in the mail one day with a nice note attached. It seems the lady found it on a beach in Florida and from the initials in the band she did some digging. She contacted the school and asked if they could match the initials with the student who graduated in 1972. They did, and she then tracked him down at his current address and returned the ring. My brother said they had a nice chat in a call to thank her."

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Notre-Dame hosts rare wedding for carpenter who spent three years rebuilding cathedral's timber frame after 2019 fire. (More, w/video)

Massachusetts man expands affordable, accessible basketball program he created during recovery from Stage 3 colon cancer. (More)

Good Samaritan replaces bride-to-be's wedding dress after original was stolen from her doorstep. (More, w/video)

Young man surprises friend by baking beloved pastries from her childhood in Iran. (More, w/recipe and video)

Over 350 students and parents in New Jersey transform biking to school into weekly community ritual. (More)    Today, we're sharing a story from reader Ellen B. in Bend, Oregon.    "Last week, our niece reported that a huge tree had fallen across one of our favorite hiking trails, but because of the current government shutdown, US Forest Service staff wouldn't be able to remove the fallen tree. So my niece, my husband, our 9-year-old grandson, and I banded together and hiked in with saws and axes to take on the tree. Several hours and plenty of chopping later, we succeeded in cutting out an opening so that the trail remains accessible again."

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French women complete late mother's quest to return bracelet of American World War II veteran to his family. (More)

Delta Air Lines introduces Black teens to aerospace and aviation careers with immersive field trips. (More)

Young Texas farmers who sacrificed resources to help community during devastating floods receive $500K donation. (More, w/video)

Four-year-old Brooklyn boy gifts homemade paper hearts to neighbors, sparking kind gestures in return. (More)

Plane crew and passengers track down lost passport, saving retired couple's long-awaited trip to Australia. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Lisa D. in Coinjock, North Carolina.   "I recently dislocated my shoulder, so I am in a splint for quite some time. With winter coming, I knew I wouldn't be able to wear a regular coat. I was shopping in a retail store, trying to try on winter capes but was struggling a bit. A very kind woman noticed and came over to help me. She dug through the rack of capes, helping me try on one after another, hanging the discards up, until we finally settled on the best one to go around my splinted arm. I didn't get her name, but she was very lovely, lively and glowed with grace. I was very grateful for her! I will think of her each time I wear it this winter."

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Young college graduate forges unexpected friendships after being mistakenly added to a group chat of retired investment bankers. (More)

Minnesota couple who met in the hospital after waking up from comas are now getting married. (More)

... and a little girl dresses up as a doctor to take care of her sick great-grandmother at the hospital. (More, w/video)

Bus driver entertains a fifth grader's curiosity, and a decade later they're colleagues. (More)

Two college students build six-legged, AI-powered robot that can plant trees in hard-to-reach, wildfire-damaged forests. (More)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Gabrielle M. in Madison, Indiana.   "My significant other travels often for work, sometimes getting into hotels very late at night. Recently, on one such occasion, he was waved over by the night manager, questioning what he was looking for in the vending area. Upon hearing that he was hungry and hadn't eaten dinner, (the manager) invited (my significant other) to join him in the takeout meal he had just procured from a local restaurant. Not taking no for an answer, he proceeded to take out two plates and dole out the hot, fresh food for the both of them. They shared a meal and proceeded to have a great conversation, all by the glow of the late-night lights."

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American heart surgeon works side by side at the operating table with an Ethiopian cardiac perfusionist whose life he saved decades ago. (More)

Delaware man revives tradition of opening his doors to neighbors with nowhere else to go for Christmas. (More via Reddit)

Middle-aged Oregon residents create a nude calendar to raise money for snowplowing. (More)

News reporter believes she's walking to her assignment. Instead, she finds her partner down on one knee with a ring. (More, w/video)

Retired police officer transforms a bus into a full-service laundromat for people experiencing homelessness. (More)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Regina M. in New Jersey.   "My sister and I went to see the Rockefeller Center tree lighting. With all the crowds and blockades, it was difficult to gain entry to the area. We briefly started speaking with the young couple next to us, brainstorming ways we could get in the area. They quickly made a reservation to a bar/restaurant within the parameters of the tree and added us—two strangers—to the reservation. We all got in! It was a magical night. We shared a drink with them later to thank them."

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Nightly holiday tradition outside a Michigan children's hospital makes young patients feel seen. (More)

... and a Portland strip show raises over $60K for toy donations to a local children's hospital. (More)

Preschooler lights up when he sees his mom in the crowd at his Christmas recital. (More, w/video)

Rabbi and Muslim man share a tender moment on the street after the Bondi Beach attack. (More via YouTube)

Billionaire purchases apartment complex in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, to provide affordable housing for locals being priced out by ski tourism. (More)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Theresa M. in Salem, Massachusetts.   "I was in Trader Joe’s with my 2-month-old and 8-year-old while my oldest was next door at her piano lesson. It was incredibly busy and I couldn’t find my carrier before leaving the house so I had to use the stroller. I had a basket and overfilled it, and the baby was screaming and I had to pick her up. A kind lady next to us gave us her spot in line and helped us lug the overflowing groceries to the register. A couple joined in to help too. It wasn’t my finest moment as a mom of four, but the genuine kindness almost brought me to tears."   What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here.

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Man carries shelter dogs on his back to help them get adopted. (More, via YouTube)

... and firefighters rescue a golden retriever that fell through a frozen pond on a morning walk. (More, w/video)

Mother and three children surprise their 80-year-old neighbor, who lives alone, with a birthday cake. (More, w/video)

Bodega owner encourages students to excel in school by offering free food in exchange for good grades. (More)

Man documents days working as a DoorDash delivery driver to save up for an engagement ring. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Darlene G. in New York.   "Taking the [Long Island Rail Road] is something I do not do often, but when weather made it safer than driving, I rode it to be with my sick grandson. I realized I did not have my phone, and the connecting train was not scheduled. I shared my anxiety with a young man trying to get to his school, and he was so kind and helpful. After sharing my situation, he offered his phone and helped me navigate the train station to successfully transfer to my destination. He even sat next to me until we both arrived."   What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here.