Good News Stories

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Ottawa man takes his Rwandan Uber driver tobogganing for the first time. (More)

Three-year-old girl forms a special bond with a server at the restaurant she visits weekly. (More, w/video)

Washington State firefighters step in to deliver groceries after a delivery driver is involved in a car accident. (More)

High school students surprise beloved substitute teacher with gift inspired by something he wears every day. (More, w/video)

Man proposes to his wife for a second time after her ring was lost in the LA wildfires. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader David K. in Queenstown, Maryland.   "My wife and I watch our granddaughter three days a week. Trash pickup comes on our second day. Our granddaughter excitedly rushes to the window, full of smiles, to wave 'hi' to the driver of the truck. He returns the wave with a toot of his horn.   "The pickup before Christmas, he pulls over, gets out of his truck, walks over to the now empty trash container, puts a box on top, then drives away. I retrieve the box, and to my delightful surprise, it is a toy trash truck for our granddaughter!"   What act(s) of kindness did you experience this week? Tell us here.

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American financier to give $200K to each US Olympic and Paralympic athlete to improve financial security after their athletic careers; unlike in other countries, the US government does not pay Olympians. (More)

Oklahoma man turns his vintage fire truck into a warming center for people experiencing homelessness during dangerous winter conditions. (More, w/video)

NFL teams up with OneCourt and Ticketmaster to give 10 blind and low-vision fans a one-of-a-kind chance to experience the Super Bowl. (More)

New York police officer helps a widow experiencing homelessness find an affordable home after finding her sleeping on her late husband's grave. (More)

Young volunteers, known as DC's Snow Team Heroes, help clear ice sheets from outside senior citizens' homes. (More)

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Brothers of US women's hockey star post goofy videos to cheer her and her teammates on in the Milan Cortina Winter Games. (More)

Florida man jumps in pond to save a pregnant woman; hours later, her baby is born. (More)

... and another Florida man rescues a mother and her three children after their car flips into a canal. (More)

Award-winning wedding photographer shares his favorite photos. (More)

Twins share a special moment the morning after their first night sleeping apart. (More, w/video)   Dear readers— This month, we're pausing our usual act of kindness stories to share a sampling of your love stories. We hope this week's selection makes you laugh. "People have asked me, 'What is the most romantic thing/gift your husband has given you?' My answer is always the same: my heated toilet seat. Not only because my bathroom is cold—and NOBODY loves sitting on a cold toilet—but mainly because my husband heard me complain about being cold and DID something about it. He listened, people ... really listened."  — Viktoria S. in Glenpool, Oklahoma "I was a graduate student living nickel to nickel. John, whom I’d just met, treated me to dinner at an expensive restaurant. Our first date. He ordered champagne, which we sipped as we browsed our textured linen menus. Unknowingly, I held my menu over the small table candle. My menu burst into flames! The waiter came running! Glasses of water doused the fire! Diners waved napkins to rid the smoke! And John pushed his chair back and laughed. Later that evening, he told me that I had a flaming-hot personality. Yes, we are still married after 40 wonderful years!" — Sally S. in Tucson, Arizona "I was at a convention in Toronto when a group decided to go to the top of the CN Tower for cocktails. At about the 35th floor, the elevator emerged from the shaft and continued to climb on the outside of the building. I'm deathly afraid of heights, and the elevator walls were all glass! Since I had a spectacular view of where I would land when I plummeted to my death, I gasped, spun around, and buried my face in the chest of the man behind me. Always a gentleman, he held me tightly for the rest of the ride up. One stray thought sneaked through my terror, 'Gee, he smells good!' We've been married over 40 years now." — Bonita Z. in Pewaukee, Wisconsin

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"Rolling Scones" cooking club encourages senior-living residents to be creative in the kitchen. (More)

Conservationists in India use a new elephant ambulance to transport a 27-year-old gentle giant to a veterinary hospital. (More)

Girl, 8, writes a letter to the Toronto Blue Jays, asking the baseball team to re-sign her father, Max Scherzer. (More)

Chicago Girl Scout troop sells over 25,000 boxes of cookies, exceeding the 2,100-box goal needed to remain active for another year. (More)

Strangers on Sunset Boulevard give terminally ill dog love, ice cream, and burgers on her last day. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Claire G. in Boulder, Colorado.   "Yesterday, my friends and I had an imaginary snowball fight. One of my friends grabbed my arm and pulled me into the middle of our small turf field. She said, 'We're having an imaginary snowball fight,' and into it we launched. I had not laughed so hard in weeks, heaving clumps of imaginary snow with imagined accuracy. It ended with all 20 of us collapsing onto the ground, soaked in imaginary snow, and surrounded by very real joyful laughs. I had not felt like a child in so long, and really did need that reminder of childhood's joys. Everyone should try being a child again, even if only for a few minutes."

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NBA players' fines for technical fouls and poor sportsmanship go toward matching grants for charitable causes. (More)

A 13-year-old boy has recycled over 1.5 million drink cans in the past three years and donated the roughly $24K he has made from scrap metal to charity. (More)

Thirty-five fathers gather at a London pub to learn how to braid their daughters' hair, an event dubbed "Pints and Ponytails." (More)

High school students work with a Virginia-based nonprofit to refurbish used cars for single mothers. (More)

Son, 80, and father, 99, have a free birthday meal at an Alabama oyster restaurant thanks to a decades-old sign. (More)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader JT T. in Ocoee, Florida.   "My friend Glenn passed away unexpectedly in 2023 at age 39. In the years prior to his death, he had released two children’s books. They were both based on experiences he had as a child. I travel some for work, and at his funeral, I promised him I would take his books with me and leave them in cities to get his work out. They would be left at libraries, children’s hospitals, and book-exchange locations. Other friends of ours also participated, and we started sharing the journeys on social media. His family and others who knew him joined in as well.   "In the three years since his death, his books are now in 41 cities and towns; in 17 different states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico; and in two other countries. He had a third book written before his death, and friends of his are working with his family to finalize it. Coincidentally, it’s about the power of friendship. I’ve learned that you can do little things to help friends that mean plenty, and all it really costs is a bit of time and effort."

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Father expands search for stem cell donor for teen son with rare blood disorder; finding a perfect match is especially hard due to his mixed Latino and Caucasian heritage. (More)

Filmmaker leaves Hollywood to fulfill lifelong dream of opening candy shop, chronicles journey to growing social media following. (More, w/videos)

Medical student, 32, matches at her first-choice residency pick—the place she was born and worked as a janitor for years. (More, w/video)

Local coffee shop co-owner with autism and ADHD has nearly $20 stolen from his tip jar; his community rallied to give him over $1,400 back in tips. (More)

San Francisco firefighter rappels down cliff to rescue woman clinging to rocks above the ocean. (More, w/video)

Therapy llamas and alpacas relax travelers at Portland International Airport. (More, w/photos)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Sara B. in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who works for a nonprofit performing arts presenter.    "Last month, we hosted a School Day Performance with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis at Hill Auditorium (on the University of Michigan campus) for about 2,200 kids in grades K-12. At the end of the performance, students were invited to ask questions of the group, and a first grader from Ypsilanti, Michigan, asked the band, 'Can we play music with you?' The trombonist of the group said, 'Well, there's no time like the present. Do you know any songs?'   "What followed was the girl singing 'Baby Shark' and the band improvising behind her, with the entire audience cheering her on."   Watch the performance here.

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Plush toy designed by an 8-year-old is off to the moon on Artemis II. (More)

... and another 8-year-old's "sweet monsters" doodles chosen to decorate a real train. (More)

Man with rare autoimmune condition seeks to run the fastest marathon by someone receiving dialysis. (More)

Family surprises 911 dispatcher with a final call before she retires. (More, w/video)

Researchers are encouraged by what happens when they give people experiencing homelessness $750 per month. (More)    Today, we're sharing a story from reader Bonita O. in Mandeville, Louisiana.   "I'm currently in relapse with AML, a form of leukemia. I'm living with my sister/caregiver away from my home in Arkansas. I'm lucky to be scheduled for a transplant next month. One thing that I'll need is platelets. I know just a few people in the area. My nephew's wife put out a request for platelet donors ... quickly, people that were total strangers to me have stepped up to donate—not once, but multiple times. It has renewed my faith in humankind at a time when so much of what we hear about is selfishness and greed!"

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Retiring pizza delivery driver receives over $145K in donations from strangers after a video of him going above and beyond goes viral. (More)

Blind man begins an organization that makes it possible for others with low vision to build Legos independently. (More)

Applebee's manager shelters customers from a tornado in the prep kitchen. (More)

Virginia church donates over $1M to pay rent for families facing eviction from public housing units. (More)

Bakery owner goes viral after enlisting his young children to voice-over his social media videos. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Mel F. in Wyandotte, Michigan.   "I'd been cleaning dead leaves out of my flower beds for a couple of hours when two preteen girls called to me from the sidewalk. They live a block away, but we'd never met. They said they saw me working hard and thought I looked like I could use some lemonade. I was so surprised that I really didn't know what to say besides thank you! I downed [the lemonade in] that red Solo cup, and they skipped off. So observant and generous!"

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World's oldest first-time grandfather on record—91 years and 209 days old—describes his relationship with his granddaughter as "absolute magic." (More)

Manhattan restaurateur serves free food every Wednesday and offers people experiencing homelessness refuge from the cold. (More)

California artist paints free home portraits for families displaced by the Palisades wildfires. (More, w/images)

Dog owner who never stopped updating her lost pit bull's microchip with her information is reunited with him after 11 years. (More)

Minnesota coffee shop owners post recipe for their viral raspberry Danish latte, hoping it gives other independent coffee shops the same business boost. (More)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Julia S. in Dallas, Texas.   "My dad and I have always shared the same Amazon account. After retirement, he got a part-time job working as a crossing guard. Soon after starting his new job, I noticed bright yellow purchases on the account. Hat, jacket, gloves, [and] a raincoat. I didn’t think much of it, other than he was getting prepared for his new crossing guard role.   "After a few weeks went by, I noticed a second raincoat purchase—this one slightly different than the first. I just figured maybe he lost the original. Then another. Then several. Then over 10. I was getting concerned at this point. Why on earth would my dad buy so many different bright yellow raincoats? Had the account been hacked? I called him. I was prepared to cancel the latest order and update passwords.   "He laughed, and explained that he had been giving the raincoats away to coworkers and strangers who either couldn’t afford them for work or got caught in the rain. Every time my dad picks me up from the airport now, his car is filled with yellow raincoats ready to be given to a stranger or a coworker in need."

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Humankind: Watch two Boston Marathon runners join forces at mile 26 to help a struggling fellow athlete cross the finish line.

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Premature baby who spent over 400 days in the NICU is preparing to head home with his little brother. (More)

Mental health crisis hotline linked to an estimated 4,400 fewer deaths in American teens and young adults who might otherwise die by suicide within its first 2.5 years. (More)

Guinea worm disease could become the second disease ever eradicated—after smallpox—and the first to be eradicated without vaccines or medicine, thanks to a nearly 40-year education campaign. (More)

Berlin Zoo offers specialized tours to people with dementia; caregivers and families describe them as a lifeline. (More)

Granddaughter surprises her grandmother by buying back the family's former home. (More, w/video)   Today, we're sharing a story from reader Janet S. in Chicago, Illinois.   "For my 3-year-old grandson, his Build-A-Bear isn't just a toy—it is a connection to his hero. Known as “Dada Bear,” it wears a San Diego Padres uniform and carries a treasure inside its paw: a voice recording of his father saying, 'I love you.'   "With his father currently deployed with the US Navy, my grandson takes Dada Bear everywhere, including to a recent Padres game where the unthinkable happened. While trying to navigate the crowd in the stadium with two small children, my daughter-in-law realized too late that Dada Bear had been lost. She contacted the Padres' lost and found and posted a photo of the bear on a Padres fan page. The posting caught the eye of a sympathetic stranger who reached out with an incredible offer. She provided the family with a generous Build-A-Bear gift card, covering the cost of a new bear and accessories to recreate the original Dada Bear.   "This act of kindness hit a home run for my son’s family. It served as a reminder that even when a parent is deployed, there is a community back home ready to step up and keep the spirit of Dada alive."

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Kindness multiplier effect

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images

Think about the last time a stranger did something unexpectedly kind for you. Maybe someone held a door open, picked up something you dropped or gave you a compliment. Did it change how you treated the next person you encountered? New research suggests that for most people, your kind gesture isn't just helping one person — it's helping many. ✨ Why it matters: Kindness spreads, especially as we age. People on the receiving end of random acts of kindness are more likely to direct kindness to strangers, according to a recent survey by Gallup and the Values-in-Action Foundation. 🤝 Yes, but: Younger adults are less likely than older adults to initiate acts of kindness toward strangers. By the numbers: Of the adults age 50 or older surveyed, 72% said they felt comfortable initiating an act of kindness after being a beneficiary themselves. But only 40% of adults 18 to 29 who also received multiple acts of kindness said the same. 🎁 That suggests the "pay it forward" instinct is something many of us grow into, not something we're simply born with. 🇺🇸 Broadly, the country is doing better than cynics might expect: More than 60% of Americans across every region said they'd experienced kindness multiple times in just the past week. Zoom in: There are some modest regional differences when it comes to observing kindness being practiced. Southerners reported seeing people treat others with kindness most often (62%). The lowest share were Midwesterners: 56% of those surveyed said they witnessed acts of kindness often. 🏙️ City dwellers reported experiencing acts of kindness many times in a week (67%), slightly more than suburban or rural residents (both 62%). The bottom line: If you were looking for a sign to help your neighbor, this is it.

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11-year-old artist and 85-year-old widower create greeting cards together; it helps pay for her dance lessons and soothe his grieving heart. (More)

Watch a father witness his son record his first Major League Baseball strikeout. (More, via Instagram)

Orphaned baby hippo will be raised by keepers in Kenya. (More)

Taiwanese grandmothers, aged 89 and 91, train at the gym so they can continue caring for themselves and others. (More, w/video)

"My mother has watched me walk through fire more times than any parent should have to. Through addiction and the long road to sobriety, through a cancer diagnosis that shook me, through raising two special needs boys while pursuing graduate school, she never wavered. She never flinched. She just kept showing up, cheering louder than anyone in the room, loving me before I knew how to love myself. She didn’t just believe I could do hard things. She made me believe it, too. Everything I am becoming, I owe, in large part, to her steady, relentless faith in me."

— Ashley P. in Canfield, Ohio

"At 5 feet, 2 inches tall, my mother looked up at everyone, but never backed down from anybody. The fifth child of a traveling salesman, survivor of the Great Depression, Bette was tough. When I struggled to write with my right hand, she boldly confronted my teacher and principal (both men), 'If the boy wants to use his left hand, let him.' Bette dispensed decades of counseling as a ‘beautician’ with honest compassion. My senior year of high school she encouraged me, her last baby, to follow my dreams, 'Go explore the world and love your life.' Truly, the greatest woman I’ve ever known."

— Wendell L. in Ventura, California

"One of my childhood memories of my mother's love and patience was of me getting angry with my mother and throwing every insult and 'I would leave this family when I could' at her, only to be calmly replied to with 'And I'll love you anyways.' I remember it stopping my argument so hard that I could not reply, due largely to the fact I could not deny it was true. She feels that for all nine of her children."

— Stephen K. in Provo, Utah

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Three teens stop to help a man fix his flat tire, and they end up saving his life. (More)

Toddler lights up when her deployed father surprises her at daycare. (More, w/video)

72-year-old woman fulfills her longtime dream of graduating from medical school. (More)

2-year-old boy celebrates being cancer-free with strangers on a plane. (More, w/video)

Twenty-six women, ranging in age from their early 50s to mid-80s, turn an old convent school into a women-only apartment building. (More)   "My mom passed away over two years ago, on Feb. 2, 2023. It’s a day I’ll always remember: her 92nd birthday. We were with her in the morning, and the Lord took her home in the afternoon. It was a really tough time, and I think my mom knew I’d need some encouragement to cope with the loss. As I went through her things, I found little notes she’d left for me to discover. These notes were tucked away in books, cookbooks, and even tin cans. I’m so grateful for those loving notes; they’ve touched and warmed my heart in ways I can’t quite put into words." — Carla B. in Las Vegas, Nevada '"Which way home?' Mom asked. I set off confidently. Tramping on paths that spread like veins into the woods, I became totally lost. Mom said she was lost, too. I started to cry. Mom didn’t rescue me. I learned that moss grows on the north side of the trees, the sun travels east to west, the neighbor’s hayfield was west of our property, and so we started in a direction. Half an hour later, I recognized the main path. Many more times in my life, by not telling me the way, Mom gifted me the ability to find my way."  — Patricia C. in Fort Mill, South Carolina "Motherhood's greatest surprise is how much you learn. One afternoon, my 5-year-old brought me a paper airplane with 'sorry' written all over. He confessed he had broken my phone weeks earlier. We talked about honesty and responsibility, explaining it wasn't okay. Distraught, he returned with a bigger airplane and hugs, but I explained it didn't make up for the loss. Later, he returned with three joined paper airplanes colored with 'sorry, I love you's.' Realizing I am just as lacking when asking forgiveness, I hugged him and let it go. We both were better for it." — Becky C. in Utah