Good People Doing Good Things — Just Two

Posted on March 1, 2023 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Just two ‘good people’ tonight, for that’s as much as I have the energy for at the moment, but these are both heartwarming stories about people at their best.

Just another random act of kindness

Jason Boudreaux rarely deposits his own paycheck … presumably his wife does that for him, but for some reason he deposited his check himself last week. He didn’t understand that when you deposit a check, the funds are not immediately available but the check can take up to a day to clear. So, imagine his surprise when, after depositing his check, he headed off to the grocery store, and when he got to the check out counter the cashier informed him that … well, I’ll let Mr. Boudreaux tell you the story in his own words …

“Much respect for this young gentleman. I deposited my payroll check and hour prior thought the money would have hit. I never deposit checks ect..dont know it could take a day or so I had groceries that were way more expensive than a Starbucks cup of coffee. I told him hello while we were waiting in line. My turn the cashier said her computer said I had insufficient funds. This lil gentleman said I got you. I said no you don’t you probably didn’t hear the price. He responded yes Sir I did, and I got you..New Iberia help me recognize this gentleman. I scrambled to me car to give him my business card, so I can repay him. He said no problem, but it is a problem to me owing money to anyone. But the point of this is the dude just stepped up for a complete stranger, he should be recognized.”

Jason snapped a quick selfie with the good Samaritan before they parted ways.

Jason Beaudreaux (left) and Kevin Jones

With help from social media, the man was identified as Kevin Jones from New Iberia. Now, it just so happens that from his posting on Facebook, Jason discovered that Kevin’s birthday was on Friday, so he threw him a birthday bash!

The two men now call each other ‘friend’.

Mr. Jones is a ‘good people’ for stepping up to the plate without hesitation … I love how these things just randomly happen sometimes!

Honesty IS the best policy

Diane Gordon is 65 years old and works five days a week in a deli that is nearly three miles from her home. She used to drive her Jeep to and from work, but it broke down a year or so ago and she did not have the money to get it repaired, so she has been walking the 2.7 mile journey each way every day.

One day in January, Diane stopped in at a local gas station for a snack on her way home, and noticed a plastic bag on the floor. Opening the bag, she discovered a number of greeting cards congratulating a newlywed couple, and a significant amount of cash, that turned out to be around $15,000!

Diane did not hesitate, didn’t even think about it really, she called the police and handed the bag over to them.

“If it doesn’t belong to you, you don’t keep it. I didn’t do anything special. All I did was return something that didn’t belong to me.”

The newly married couple were ecstatically grateful, of course, but so was Stacy Connell, the wife of the police officer who responded to Diane’s initial call. Says Stacy …

“As a police officer’s wife, I typically hear the bad things, so this was obviously heartwarming. I was hoping we could help her get a car, since she could have walked into any dealership and used that money.”

Toward that end, Connell started a GoFundMe that raised $82,000 in six days time, and Diane Gordon is now the proud owner of a brand new Jeep Compass! Looks like honesty really is the best policy!

“I absolutely love it! It’s got a steering wheel warmer and a back-up camera; all things I’ve never had before.”

Now, she said, it will be much easier to visit her two grandchildren – ages 13 and 11 – who live about a 25-minute drive away. That’s the first place she drove in her new car.

Good People Doing Good Things — Dr. Kwane Stewart

Posted on January 25, 2023 by jilldennison under animals, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

I try not to redux my ‘good people’ posts too often, for there are so many good people that I typically don’t have to look too far to find one. However, tonight I am stuck in a rabbit hole and simply don’t feel like creating a new ‘good people’ post. As it happened, while I was looking around, researching recent good people, a man crossed my radar and I thought, “Hmmmm … haven’t I written about him before?” Turns out I had, about 3 years ago. That man is Dr. Kwame Stewart, DVM. Also turns out he’s still out there doing good things, helping people and critters, so I thought we’d take another look at him and his huge heart! Today, what started as a GoFundMe three years ago, is a 501(c)3 non-profit Project Street Vet, that takes donations and volunteers out onto the streets and to homeless encampments to provide free medical care for their pets, and last year they were able to help nearly 600 animals receive medical care. Here’s a link to his most recent endeavours, the article that caught my attention yesterday!

From my 2020 post …

Imagine for a moment if you will that you are homeless … you’ve lost most everything you had in life … except your dog. The only one who still loves you, who faithfully stays by your side through thick and thin, doesn’t care if you haven’t had a shower in days, or if you’ve got that same ugly grey sweatshirt on for the third day in a row. He cuddles by your side at night, gives you a g’night lick on the cheek, and his is the first face you see when you wake in your makeshift tent on the sidewalk, or under the overpass. Your best friend … maybe your only friend.Meet Dr. Kwane Stewart, DVM. Nine years ago, Stewart, wanting to show his young son the importance of giving back, spent an afternoon at a soup kitchen offering medical care to the pets of homeless people in Modesto, California. During this experience, he learned that these animals provided more than companionship to their owners — they also offered love, hope, and security.

“I knew then and there I was going to keep doing it. There’s so much need out there. About 25% of our homeless population own a pet, and I knew that if I set up a table at a soup kitchen, I could help a small group of animals. So that’s what I did. I called over anyone who was holding their pet and told them I’d take a look and vaccinate or treat their pet if I could. That first experience was one of the most rewarding moments for me. When you give back, there is something you get in return that feels much larger. I knew I wanted to keep doing it.”

After examining more than a dozen animals on that first day, he realized there was a need for this type of medical care in his community. What started as a few hours of volunteer work slowly became part of his regular routine.He has helped heal more than 400 homeless pets and hopes to continue spreading empathy and awareness around homelessness through his work on the street. He also hopes his mission will encourage other veterinarians to volunteer their time and expertise to help those in need.

“I don’t ever want to have to turn anybody away. The look on people’s faces when they get their pets back, especially after a surgery or a life-saving procedure — those are moments I’ll remember forever. Anyone has the power to help. You can volunteer at a rescue shelter. You can donate money or time. As that generosity spreads, it helps fuel the positive energy in the world.”

About 98% of the pets Stewart encounters on the streets are dogs — though there are a surprising number of cats and the occasional bird or reptile. While he’s heard comments that homeless people shouldn’t have pets, Stewart doesn’t share that opinion because he’s seen the benefits both to people and the animals themselves.

“To a pet, their owner is their universe. But we go to work and leave our pet alone sometimes eight, 10, 12 hours a day and they just sit and pine for us. Homeless people are with their animal every minute of every day.”

And pets can provide homeless women with a sense of protection and security, and offer hope to their companions — a reason not to give in to despair or fall deeper into drug or alcohol addiction, he said. One man told him, “My dog is more beneficial to me than any pill or therapy session.”

“I’ve seen homeless people feed their pet before they feed themselves. I’ve seen them give their last dollar to care for their pet. They sustain each other and that is the power of pet companionship.”

Stewart hopes to challenge preconceived notions of what homeless people are like through a TV show, in which he stars, called “The Street Vet.” He describes it as a “passion project” that he created with his brother. So far, it’s shown in smaller markets in Eastern Europe, Canada and China. While people sometimes assume Stewart is rich because he’s in a show and has had high-profile jobs, such as chief veterinary officer of the nonprofit American Humane, he’s still paying off his student loans from veterinary school. Below is a short trailer from his show … grab your box of tissues first.

Out on the streets, the most common afflictions Stewart sees are flea infestations, ear infections and mild arthritis, but sometimes a pet needs surgery to remove a tumor or rotting teeth. In the past, he would pay for it out of his own pocket; he is grateful to have found reduced-price care at Beverly Oaks Animal Hospital in Los Angeles. Dr. Laurie Leach, a veterinarian at the practice, has even performed some surgeries pro bono.

Still, costs add up and Stewart doesn’t want to have to turn anyone away, so he started a GoFundMe last fall. Inspired by his efforts, the fundraising site GoFundMe named him the February GoFundMe Hero.You may think it’s a small thing … and sure, relative to saving the world it is. But … to those homeless people whose only friend is their dog or cat … or bird … it means everything. I give two thumbs up to Dr. Kwane Stewart! 👍 👍

Good People Doing Good Things – Mohamed Bzeek

Posted on March 30, 2022 by jilldennison under Good people doing good things, Social commentary

I must apologize for giving you a good people redux today, but I think you’ll find Mohamed Bzeek well worth reading about a second time. I first wrote this post in 2017 when many people in this country were calling for a ban on all Muslims. Reading about Mr. Bzeek and the wonderful things he’s done further proves that one cannot judge a person by his skin colour, ethnicity, or religion. He is a good people indeed! I have added just a couple of [update 2022] notes.

“I am not an angel. I am not a hero. It’s just what we are supposed to do as a human being.”

Three weeks ago I wrote about the couple, Michael and Camille Geraldi, who had adopted, over the course of 40 years, some 88 children with special needs. They are an amazing couple and their story was one of my most popular ever. Imagine my amazement when a similar story literally dropped into my lap on Monday night when I was not even looking for a subject for this post, but was doing research for another piece. Please allow me to introduce you to a gentleman with a heart of gold, Mr. Mohamed Bzeek.

Mr. Bzeek lives in Los Angeles, where he has made it his life’s mission to take in foster children. Not just any foster children, but Mr. Bzeek takes in the foster children that nobody else will … those who are dying of terminal illnesses. Mohamed Bzeek started caring for foster children when he met his late wife, who was then already a foster mom. At first, they took in children who had medical issues. In 1995, they started taking in only children who were terminally ill. Over the years, Bzeek says, he’s taken in about 40 children with medical problems, ten of whom died while in his care, some while in his very arms. [Update 2022: In an update from 2021, the number of children he has taken in is over 80!]

Why does he do it? His faith, for one thing. He feels that it’s his duty as a Muslim to help those in need. “It’s the big factor, my faith, because I believe as a Muslim we need to extend our hand to help people who need us. Doesn’t matter what nationality, what religion, what country. To me it doesn’t matter, I do it as a human being for another human being,” he says. “You have to do it from your heart, really. If you do it for money, you’re not going to stay for long.”

Speaking of one of his former children, he says, “And this is my kid who died with the cancer. He has a cancer. He died. They operate on him, and they find the cancer separate all of his organs. So, the doctor said, let’s stitch him back, and said, there’s nothing we can do for him.”

Mr. Bzeek came to the U.S. from Libya in 1978, then an engineering student. Years later, through a mutual friend, he met a woman named Dawn, who would become his wife. She had become a foster parent in the early 1980s, before she met Bzeek. Her grandparents had been foster parents, and she was inspired by them, Bzeek said. Before she met Bzeek, she opened her home as an emergency shelter for foster children who needed immediate placement or who were placed in protective custody. Bzeek became a U.S. citizen in 1997. And then, in 2015, Bzeek’s wife died, and in 2016, Bzeek himself was diagnosed with cancer.

“I had to face everything by myself. If I am 62-years-old and I’m scared and afraid to be by myself – I felt what the kids felt. The young kids, how they feel when they are alone, have no family, nobody comforts them, nobody tells them ‘It’s ok, I’m here for you, we go through this together and it will be fine.’ This operation in December has humbled me, and makes me work more and help more kids.”

The video below is short (3:33 min) but please watch it … I fell in love with Mr. Bzeek when I saw this:

Today, he is foster parent to a 6-year-old girl* born with microcephaly, a rare disorder in which a baby’s brain doesn’t fully develop. She cannot see or hear. She responds only to touch. At seven weeks old, the county took her from her biological parents. They called Bzeek, and he agreed to take her in.

The girl’s head is too small for her 34-pound body, which is too small for her age. She was born with an encephalocele, a rare malformation in which part of her brain protruded through an opening in her skull, according to Dr. Suzanne Roberts, the girl’s pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Neurosurgeons removed the protruding brain tissue shortly after her birth, but much of her brain remains undeveloped. She has been in Bzeek’s care since she was a month old. Before her, he cared for three other children with the same condition.

“These kids, it’s a life sentence for them.” A snippet of an interview between Mr. Bzeek and NPR’s Lulu Garcia-Navarro:

Bzeek: And, also, she has, like, seizures. She’s blind and deaf. She has clubfoot and dislocated hips.

Navarro: How do you communicate with her? She is blind. She can’t hear.

Bzeek: Touch – communication, touching her, you know? She smiled when I play with her and make a little bit, like, noise, you know? It doesn’t mean anything. But that shows you that, you know, she understands that somebody tried to communicate with her, you know?

Navarro: How many of them have died in your care?

Bzeek: Ten. They need somebody who will be with them and take care of them, you know? It doesn’t matter how hard, you know, because somebody has to do it.

Navarro: How do you deal with the loss when they pass away? How do you cope?

Bzeek: I mean, at church. You know, you have a kid since it was a baby, since it was one week or two weeks or a few days. And, like, some of them stayed, like, six years and four months. It’s really hard. I mean, I consider them as, like, my biological, you know? And it hurts. But I believe that is part of life, you know?

Melissa Testerman, an intake coordinator for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has nothing but the highest praise for Mr. Bzeek. “If anyone ever calls us and says, ‘This kid needs to go home on hospice,’ there’s only one name we think of. He’s the only one that would take a child who would possibly not make it.”

Neil Zanville of the Los Angeles Department of Child and Family Services says that without Bzeek these children would be forced to live in medical facilities rather than the comfort of a loving home. “Mr. Bzeek is dealing with children who only have a limited amount of time. I think he’s even taken children in that died days later. So it’s the rare individual, or he might be the only individual in LA county, that will provide a home environment and provide love and care when a child in fact has very limited time left.”

On reading his story in the Los Angeles Times (an excellent read, if you have time) in February, a woman named Margaret Cotts was so moved that she decided to set up a GoFundMe account to help Mr. Bzeek. The donations will be used to get him central air conditioning and heating (right now he only has a swamp cooler in his living room), additional help, a new car and roof repairs. As of this writing, the account has received $496,253!!! [Update 2022: As of last night, it was $821,566!]

Bzeek’s own biological son, Adam, himself was born in 1997 with brittle bones, dwarfism and other physical challenges and requires much care. At 19 years of age, and a computer science student at a local college, he weighs a scant 65 pounds. A nurse’s aide helps with care on weekdays from 8:00 to 4:00. But, still, it’s a full-time job, one Mr. Bzeek handles by himself every night and every weekend. Sleep is a precious commodity, and other than his time in the hospital last December, Mr. Bzeek has not had a “day off” since 2010. With his foster daughter’s seizures happening more and more often, he usually sleeps near her on the couch, just in case.

So the next time you hear somebody say we should ban all Muslims, think of Mr. Bzeek and think about all the children who would have spent their last days on earth all alone if not for him. I know that if I ever get to L.A., I will make time to stop by and shake his hand. In the words of Rod Dreher writing for the American Conservative, “The whole story is so beautiful it hurts.”

*No names of the children can be used because of privacy laws

Additional Resources:

PBS News Hour interview with 7:00 min podcast

Good People Doing Good Things — The Gift Of Self

Posted on October 7, 2020 by jilldennison under animals, Bits 'n Pieces, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Follow-Up

I want to start this week’s ‘good people’ with a follow-up to one of last week’s stories. You may remember the woman who was at the McDonald’s drive-thru with a cranky child in the car and suddenly realized she had left her purse with her money at home. The young man working the drive-thru did not hesitate but used his own bank card to pay for her order. Last week, that young man, Wyatt Jones, was the ‘good people’, and in this week’s follow-up, the woman, Brittany Reed, is also a good people, as well as many others.

Ms. Reed was so grateful to young Wyatt, but he wouldn’t accept any extra money from her. So, she managed to contact his mother, who told her that Wyatt was working to save money to buy a car. Ms. Reed jumped into action and started a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $5,000 to help Wyatt buy a car.

My jaw dropped when I visited the page and found that nearly two thousand people had donated to the fund for a total of $34,820!!!Ms. Reed is certainly a good people for wanting to do something kind for Wyatt who had helped her in a time of need, but so are each and every one of those 1,900 people who have donated, some as little as $10, others $100. I don’t know about you, but it warms my heart to know that so many people do still care about others and want to help out. Lots of thumbs up in this one!

A good cop

We hear a lot about the bad apples in law enforcement these days, and it’s enough to make us lose faith in those who we are supposed to trust to serve and protect us. But they aren’t all bad … there are an awful lot of police officers who are doing their best to be members of the community, to protect and instill trust. So, when I get the chance, I like to shine a light on those officers who have gone the extra mile to do something good. Today’s shining example of a genuinely good cop is Officer Arthur Parker of Plano, Texas. Officer Parker retired earlier this year, but he is missed by one and all at Clark High School. Affectionately known as O.P., he had served for 34 years with the Plano Police Department, 27 of which were spent as a School Resource Officer. When on duty directing traffic outside the school, his dance moves earned him fame. Said Parker …

“I had a patrol call and say someone called and said there’s an officer drunk in the street. They got a real call!”

Says the school’s principal, Janice Williams …

“My first impression was ‘oh my gosh, this is gonna be the person that’s gonna be protecting us’ because he did his normal goofy OP (Officer Parker) thing and went into some kind of character, and he’s kept me laughing ever since.”

To keep students motivated, Parker even taught himself a tune on the harmonica for every situation. For a history lesson, he plays Taps. When he’s trying to get kids to move along, he said “Play ‘Star Wars,’ ‘Luke, I am your father, go to class.’” To the teens at Clark High, he’s a confidant and confidence booster.

According to the students …

“OP, he really tries to find that connection.”

“He’s mostly just taught me how to be confident no matter what.”

“When it’s fun. he’s always fun, when things get real, he’s strict.”

Officer Parker may be retiring from the Plano Police Department, but he’s not leaving the students, for even in retirement he plans to use his unique style of humor and dancing to win over students.

“People are saying, hey it’s time to relax. No, it’s not! I’ve got energy. Relax? Please! If I go to school and volunteer, I have to be there enough times to say, ‘hey, we know who he is! That’s O.P. Old person. Not Officer Parker any longer.’”

Now, Officer Parker didn’t rescue people from burning houses, didn’t donate his life savings to someone in need, so you might be asking yourself why I feature him in this week’s ‘good people’ post. Well, folks, good people are carers, givers. Officer Arthur Parker cares about people, particularly those young people at Plano High School, and he gave … continues to give … of the most precious thing any of us have: himself and his time. It’s easy enough to write a check, or donate online to a worthy cause, and I’m not knocking that … not at all! But, the most beautiful gift, I think, is the gift of self, of selflessly giving your time to someone who needs it.

We will never know how much of a difference OP made in the lives of some of those students, but I’m betting that to some, he was literally a lifesaver.

And a couple of short ones from CNN’s ‘Good Stuff’ newsletter …

Love’s labors found

Tim Gjoraas, a 45-year-old teacher from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, knew he may not have long to live. After battling colon cancer for several years, doctors told him it was terminal. So, Gjoraas (first row, black shirt above) decided it was finally time to repaint the outside of his house. It was something his wife had always wanted, and if ever there was a time for fulfilling wishes, it would be now. Originally, he had asked a friend to take care of the task for him next year, with the understanding that Gjoraas, sadly, may not be around to see it through. However, word got out to his community, and more than a dozen people showed up to get the job done while Gjoraas could still enjoy it. They drank craft beers, told stories, and within half a day the house was a beautiful new shade of blue. It’s just one way, Gjoraas says, that his friends and neighbors have stepped up during this difficult time. “My community has really gone to bat for my family and I over and over and over,” he said.

California firefighter Grant Newnom …

… who drove straight from a 60-hour shift with the San Jose Fire Department to help save his girlfriend’s parents’ home from an approaching wildfire. Elise Jones, his girlfriend, was having dinner with her parents at their home in Santa Rosa when they were ordered to evacuate. When Newnom arrived on the scene, he started moving woodpiles, debris and other flammable materials away from the house and used his chainsaw to cut down nearby trees to protect the home.As he was leaving, a Santa Rosa fire truck drove up. Because of its location, the Santa Rosa fire captain decided that’s where firefighters would make their fight against the impending blaze. Though the rest of the area was sadly not as lucky, the house was saved.

Critters is good people too …

I don’t know who wrote this or what the circumstances were, but it touched my heart.

“Ham saved my life yesterday. He hurt his paw but I’m alive because of his bravery.

I was working on my house where I fell and was critically injured. He ran to me and started howling and crying; he tried to drag me and ripped his foot open. Luckily he got my neighbors attention. I should be dead, but he saved me.Thank you, Ham. You are my best friend.”

See, friends, you don’t have to be rich or have vast resources to be a good people … all you have to do is care enough to give the gift of self, to give up an hour or two of your valuable time to help someone. I bet if we all try, we can be good people this week … what do you say?

One Story, LOTS Of Good People

Posted on June 17, 2020 by jilldennison under Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Antonio Gwynn is an 18-year-old high school senior in Buffalo, New York. Two years ago, Gwynn’s mother died and he was taken in by a friend, Duane Thomas. On May 29^th, Gwynn participated in a peaceful protest against the brutal murder of George Floyd, marching for hours. Finally, tired, he went home to get some rest and watch videos of some of the nationwide protests. But, what he saw when he woke the next morning stunned him.

He saw that his hometown’s peaceful streets had turned violent after he left, with a confrontation between protesters and U.S. marshals in front of the federal courthouse, windows smashed at downtown businesses, and protesters reporting that they had been hit by police rubber bullets.

“I was sad to watch all of that. There was a huge mess downtown. I thought, ‘I should go out there and clean it all up.’”

And so, he did.

Gwynn had rented a small U-Haul truck several days earlier to move some of his belongings into a house he had just rented from his aunt. At 2 a.m. on June 1, he threw a broom, a dustpan and two large boxes of garbage bags into the back of the truck and headed to Bailey Avenue, where much of the damage had happened.

Sweeping up broken glass, discarded protest signs and litter for about 17 blocks, Gwynn worked through the morning until almost noon, filling nearly two dozen trash bags, most of which he took home and set on his curb in time for garbage pickup.What young Antonio didn’t know was that his good deed was about to go viral, thanks to one person in particular, a nearby resident, Nicole Hopkins, who snapped a few pictures, then put them on her Facebook page along with a call to arms. Nicole wrote …

“I was driving down Bailey on my way to the store after the riots and I observed a young man sweeping up piles of garbage. I took some pictures, looped around, and asked who he was working for. He informed me he rented a truck and was doing this out of the kindness of his own heart. After speaking with him more in depth, I learned he is 18, a soon to be graduate of Hutch Tech, with aspirations of attending college. If we can pay for his books, a Mac Book, or at least one semester of college for this brave young man, his generosity and kindness will be the change we wish to see in the world.”

Hopkins’s post was quickly picked up by Kimberly LaRussa, whose Sweet Buffalo Facebook page highlights people who do good in the community. From there, it took off running.

Now, in my book Gwynn was a good people in a couple of ways … for peacefully protesting George Floyd’s murder, and then for cleaning up the detritus left at the end of the day, even though it was not his own trash. But, there are more than one good people in this story!Gwynn’s voice mail box and Facebook page were suddenly filled with notes from well-wishers in Buffalo and beyond, commending him for cleaning up downtown before anyone else could get to it. And there were generous offers, too.

When one man learned that Gwynn didn’t have a car, he offered up his 2004 Ford Mustang. Another person offered to insure it, and several others set up a GoFundMe account that brought in more than $5,800 to help Gwynn pay some of his expenses while living on his own for the first time. The fundraiser surpassed its goal of $5,000 and is no longer active. Lots more good people!!!

Probably the biggest surprise, said Gwynn, was a call from Medaille College in Buffalo. When administrators heard on the local news that he hoped one day to start his own auto repair shop and cleaning company, they presented Gwynn with a four-year scholarship so that he could begin business classes this fall.

Gwynn didn’t do this for any sort of reward or acclaim … he did it, as most good people do, because it was the right thing to do.

“It was unbelievable. I didn’t do this for any attention. I just didn’t want people to have to drive through all that trash on the street.”

But wait … I’m not done, for there is at least one more good people in this story. Two years ago, when Gwynn’s mother died of a heart attack, his younger sister went to live with his grandmother, but Gwynn had nowhere to go. It was then that Duane Thomas, 37, a pastor and youth leader at the Change Church offered him a home, on two conditions: he do the dishes, and keep up with his homework. Mr. Thomas has three children and eight stepchildren, but nonetheless, he said he considers Antonio to be a member of his family …

Duane Thomas (l) with Antonio

“I call him ‘son,’ and he calls me ‘pop,’ I was so proud when I heard he was out there by himself, cleaning up the city. It’s amazing. He just kept on going until he got the job done.”

Duane Thomas … yet another good people in this story!

Gwynn had recently moved out to rent a place from his aunt and brought his sister, Aaliyah, to live with him, said Thomas. He was planning to find a job and go to a trade school this fall, he said, when the offers came pouring in.

Just one simple story, but so many good people in it! One young person’s desire to do the right thing opened the hearts of so many.

Good People Doing Good Things — In Times Of Trouble

Posted on May 20, 2020 by jilldennison under Bits 'n Pieces, Environmental Issues, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

This week’s ‘good people’ post is just a bit late, but hopefully worth the wait.

The trash man watcheth …

We don’t give much thought to our trash collectors, or binmen … they come once or twice a week, pick up the trash, and that’s that. They likely don’t give much thought to us, either. Unless, of course, they are Jake Bland at Hometown Hauling, a refuse collection company in Louisville, Kentucky.One day last week, Jake noticed that one house on his route hadn’t put out any trash for the past two weeks, so he asked the company’s dispatcher to call the customer. The dispatcher, fearing the worst, was relieved when the 90-year-old customer answered the phone, but that relief quickly dissipated when she found out why there had been no trash for two weeks: the woman had no trash because she had run out of food ten days before!

Said the dispatcher, Bernice Arthur …

“She just didn’t have nothing to eat….and that’s why she had no trash to put out there. She has no family, nobody. I said, ‘You do have a family now.’”

And indeed, the folks at Hometown Hauling jumped in and became family for the elderly woman, known only as Mrs. W. They compiled a list, went shopping and brought Mrs. W. enough groceries to last for quite a while. Money was not Mrs. W’s problem, but logistics were. She does not drive and was afraid to take a bus in this era of coronavirus. Nonetheless, the crew at Hometown Hauling paid for the food and it was their gift to Mrs. W. I’m pretty sure that Jake and Bernice will be keeping check on Mrs. W. for the foreseeable future.

Thumbs up to all those who participated in this venture, for without them, Mrs. W. would likely be dead by now.

Little people doing BIG things …

More than two years ago, I wrote about a young man, Jahkil Jackson, who had come to my attention because of his good works that started when he was about 8 years old and started his non-profit, Project, I Am. He had begun making “Blessing Bags” — kits full of socks, toiletries and snacks that he could offer to the homeless in his hometown of Chicago. Young Jahkil, now 12-years-old, has floated onto my radar again this week when, in the ever-growing dark shadow of the coronavirus pandemic, he expanded his project to include yet another vulnerable population — senior citizens — in his hometown.

“I don’t think it’s safe for anybody to go outside right now. So, I decided to give them the daily essentials like hand sanitizer, which is very important, wipes, tissue. I feel like those really help them. I’m doing my part and helping. And I feel like it’s everyone’s duty to help out where they can. Everybody in the world, they’re scared, they’re worried. So, we have to work together to uplift each other.”

I repeat what I said two years ago when I first discovered young Jahkil … what an awesome young man! But wait … I’m not finished, for young Jahkil has teamed up with a young man in Gaithersburg, Maryland, 7-year-old Cavanaugh Bell. Age … distance??? Pshaw … just another hurdle to overcome!When the pandemic hit, Cavanaugh and his mom went grocery shopping for his 74-year-old grandmother, who lives in a nearby senior living community. Cavanaugh couldn’t help but also worry about his grandmother’s friends. He wondered whether they were getting all the food and other essentials they needed.

“I just wanted to make sure that they were staying home, and they were staying safe. My grandma is my best friend. We all love our senior citizens and they mean more to us than anything else. I just decided to do something nice for them.”

So, Cavanaugh used his $600 in savings to purchase food and supplies to take to the other seniors. Word spread, and he started receiving donations to help his mission. To date, his GoFundMe page has raised more than $12,000.

Now, Cavanaugh has opened a community pantry for families in need to pick up care packages filled with food and other necessary household items. Recently, Cavanaugh and Jahkil connected about their mutual cause and how they could team up to get their care packages into the hands of even more people.

For starters, Jahkil assembled and sent 50 of his blessing bags to Cavanaugh, who simultaneously sent packages of food items and other supplies to Jahkil. Jahkil used the donations from Cavanaugh to make more blessing bags — helping him reach more seniors and homeless people. Cavanaugh distributed Jahkil’s blessing bags to those in need through his community pantry.

“I think it’s important for us young kids to work together because kids are very powerful and they can make change, too,” said Jahkil, who plans to coordinate efforts with more young do-gooders throughout the country.

“Anyone can have an impact no matter their age, no matter if they’re older or they’re young. Because whatever you believe you can achieve,” Cavanaugh said. “With love we can get through this together.”

Now, obviously these two young men have a bit of help from their families, but that’s part of the point. Jahkil’s and Cavanaugh’s parents are teaching these guys at a very young age how to be good people, that we all have a responsibility to help others in times of need. Just as we tend to blame parents when young people get in trouble, I think we must also applaud parents like those of these two youngsters, for they are teaching their children well. These kids and others like them are the future of our country, a future that may be a bit brighter for having these two and others like them.

Good People Doing Good Things — Dr. Kwane Stewart

Posted on February 26, 2020 by jilldennison under animals, Good people doing good things, Social commentary

Good People Doing Good Things — Austin Perine

Posted on March 20, 2019 by jilldennison under Good people doing good things, Social commentary

I have vacillated over today’s ‘good people’ post, and I opted not to do the one I originally wrote. I feared it might stir controversy, and that is not what my good people posts are intended to do. Right decision? Wrong decision? I don’t know, and you may yet see it here later this week, but for today I do have one awesome ‘good people’ to introduce you to! It is a little good people with a huge heart!

Austin Perine of Birmingham, Alabama, is only four years old, but this little guy has won my heart! He knows, better than most adults, I think, the value of helping others. What were you doing when you were four-years old? The entire focus of my life at 4 was my dog, Shadow. I slept, played, and sucked my thumb at age 4, and that’s about all I can remember. Austin, however, leads a much different life than many 4-year-olds, for he is helping feed the homeless!

Here’s how it all started, according to Austin’s father, TJ Perine …

“This whole thing started when we were sitting at home watching Animal Planet and a baby panda was abandoned by its mom. Just to give him an answer, I told Austin that the panda would be homeless. Then he asked, ‘Well, are people homeless?’ and I said yes. That sparked an idea for him to want to come and feed the homeless, so here we are just a few months later.”

A few days later, TJ took Austin to one of the city’s homeless shelters to give him an up-close-and-personal view of what it means to be homeless. Not quite expecting Austin’s response …

“He said, ‘Can we feed them?’ I didn’t expect to feed homeless people that day. But when a 4-year-old asks you, what can you say?”

So, they headed to Burger King and picked up a batch of chicken sandwiches. Austin agreed to use his allowance to buy food instead of a weekly toy. And later, Austin told his parents he wanted to use all of his allowance from now on, plus any money they would spend to buy him a toy, to feed the homeless. As word of his mission spread, Burger King offered to give Austin an ‘allowance’ of $1,000 per month for a year to help him achieve his goal.

Austin wears a superhero cape when he goes on his feeding outings with his father. At Linn Park recently, the little guy handed sandwiches and drinks to the homeless. Every time, he exclaimed, “Don’t forget to show love!”

Birmingham’s mayor, Randall Woodfin, calls him “the city’s ambassador” …

“It’s one of our younger generation that gets it and understands the importance of helping others. And it’s one that we all want to cherish and make of importance which is showing love.”

Now, at age 4, Austin is definitely a ‘good people’, but Austin had some help, I do believe. I think we should also shine a light on TJ for helping show Austin the way, for himself being possessed of a big heart. Caught up in Austin’s enthusiasm, TJ started a GoFundMe called Show Love Fight Hunger, and he has plans to expand on Austin’s good works …

“We’ve gotten a lot of support from the country, and what we want to do is expand from more than just giving out sandwiches.”

His vision is to build a facility that addresses the many causes of homelessness.

“Mental illness, drug abuse, addiction, and things like that. Austin and I want to build a facility and get some specialists in there that can actually help these people get back into the workforce.”

I think that the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

A few of the homeless at Linn Park knew little Austin with his superhero cape, and exchanged hugs and fist bumps. Those who did not know him were flabbergasted. One homeless man said he’d never seen anything like this. Austin explained how doing this makes him feel inside …

“When I feed the homeless it makes me really happy and I think what I do is very special. When I grow up I want to be president. My jobs when I become president would be to feed the homeless and to chase the bad guys out of schools.”

I don’t know about you all, but I really, really want this little guy to grow up to be president!!!

Now, Austin has one last good deed I want to share with you that has nothing to do with feeding the homeless. Austin’s older brother, Taylor, 16, has severe autism. Austin … well, check out the tweet for yourself …Now, isn’t that the pinnacle of brotherly love? Big kudos to Austin Perine, his dad TJ, and also for Burger King and everyone else who has so generously helped Austin in his quest to be a good people and feed the homeless. Here’s to the future President of the United States, Austin Perine!

Good People Doing Good Things — Ruby Kate Chitsey

Posted on February 13, 2019 by jilldennison under Good people doing good things

A young lady, eleven-year-old Ruby Kate Chitsey, has popped up on my radar no less than three times in the past week, and with good reason. Ruby’s mom, Amanda, is a nurse-practitioner who works in various nursing homes in and around their town of Harrison, Arkansas. Whenever possible, Ruby accompanies her mom on her rounds several days a week. I’ll let Ruby tell you in her own words what defining moment inspired her to begin her wondrous project …

“One day as my mom and I were leaving the nursing home, a patient named Pearl was glued to the exit doors staring for a long time at something. I figured whatever it was must be pretty exciting because I hadn’t seen anything exciting all day. So I hurried to catch up to her before whatever this was disappeared. I thought maybe it was a baby bird? A wreck in the parking lot? Ambulance?

I get up there and there is a normal dog being led out on a leash to a car by a normal lady. That was it! Boring. I asked her what was going on and she said that was her dog of 12ish years. The dog had come to visit for the day and she was staring at the door because she didn’t know the next time she would see her dog again.

Pearl’s face was so sad. I thought of all the things in this world Pearl could have, she would probably just ask for more visits with her dog. I know it costs $12 for a pet sitter/visit. I’m eleven and I have enough money saved in my piggy bank to get Pearl a few visits with her dog.”

Now, Ruby has already proven herself to be possessed of a huge, caring heart. When she was nine-years-old, she started a project “to promote the kindness of Harrison people and its businesses through a painted rock project, called Harrison Rocks.” Ruby gives credit for her inspiration to paint rocks to her cat, Bubba. Her first painted rock was a Bubba rock.

“My cat, he’s very inspiring and not everyone has a Bubba. I thought maybe if we put out a painted rock it would be like a little Bubba. It could make someone feel happy.”

But that was a precursor to her current project. After her encounter with Pearl in the nursing home, Ruby started thinking. Just $12 didn’t seem like much, but after talking to her mom and some of the nursing home residents, she learned that many of the people in the nursing homes are on Medicaid and while their daily care is covered by Medicaid, they are given only $40 in cash to purchase those extras each month.Ruby started spending more time with the residents, and began asking them a simple question: “If I could bring you three things in the whole world, what would those be?” The answers were surprisingly simple … fresh fruit, haircuts, snacks, or a book. And Ruby began keeping a notebook …

And thus, The Three Wishes project was born. With the help of her mother, she set up a GoFundMe account that took off like wildfire, earning over $96,000 since its inception two months ago!

One man, when asked by Ruby what he would like, said “I want some pants that fit!” Ruby’s mom says she has known that patient for over 18 years and never even realized that his pants were all too tight.

“I have been working in this field for 25 years, and you get used to caring for people’s medical needs, but you can forget about the need for joy.”

A visit to The Three Wishes Facebook page tells of the many special projects Ruby has done, such as the day she handed out over 100 candy bars to residents, some of whom said they had not had a candy bar in years. And the first week in February, Ruby and her mom delivered McDonald’s Happy Meals that were a hit with all!Ruby has also begun creating artwork to adorn the residents walls. Here’s a recent post by Ruby’s mom, Amanda …

Then there was the robotic cat (yes, there really is such a thing … I checked it out and then threatened to replace the Sig Six with them if they don’t behave! 😾) Ruby provided to a patient who absolutely adores cats more than anything in the world. This cat will sit on her lap all day if she likes and interact with her just enough to provide comfort.In addition to local media, Ruby’s project has attracted international attention, being featured on CNN as well as BBC.

Ruby visits the nursing homes (5 in total) a few times a week while Amanda makes her rounds, but to fill in the gaps, she has recruited a helper, one Marilyn Spurlock, who says …

“It gives me something to do. It took away a lot of my depression — because I felt worthless and couldn’t do anything to help anybody. I’ve been here so long, I was no longer useful. Every day that goes by, I get a little more excited. I go out into in the hub — the areas where people sit. I look and talk to them and ask if there’s anything they need.”

Ruby Kate Chitsey is only 11 years old, and yet she has discovered something that many people my own age still don’t understand … a simple concept that there is much joy to be gained from helping others. I hope never to be in a nursing home, but if ever I am, I hope there is someone like Ruby Kate to bring a ray of sunshine into my life! As I often do when writing about the very young who are doing good things, I have to give partial credit to Ruby’s parents, Dr. Blake and Amanda Chitsey, for they have obviously been superior role models. And I give a huge thumbs-up to this young lady for dedicating her time and energy to helping so many people!

How To Build A Wall …

Posted on January 27, 2019 by jilldennison under Election 2020, Political commentary, Racism & Bigotry, Social commentary

My friend Valerie posted this on Facebook last night …

“We just got a phone call wanting us to buy a brick in Trumps wall. No, not happening.”

Say WHAT??? Surely just some new phone scam, right? Well, yes and no. Turns out that there are a couple of different ‘things’ going around, but at least one is actually a project of Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign! Yes, folks, but the bricks aren’t real, and they don’t go to build the wall! They are fake bricks that you can purchase for only $20.20 each and have them sent to either Senator Chuck Schumer or House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Campaign manager Brad Parscale issued a statement:

“The Democrats have been stonewalling President Trump for too long, as the President remains fully committed to make a deal to secure our border. Now the American people can send a message directly to Chuck and Nancy on a faux red brick that tells them to build the wall. Because they clearly don’t understand the facts about the critical need for a wall and border security, our bricks will teach them the truth about the crime, drugs, and human trafficking that result from open borders.”

A fake brick. For only $20.20. Enough to feed a family of four for a day or two, at least. Instead, some fools will throw away their money on this foolish little game. By the way … the market price of an actual brick is around $1.96 per square foot.

The campaign also set up a website called Build the Border Wall, where respondents can donate their money and choose if they want their brick to be sent to Pelosi or Schumer. They can send up to seven bricks to each with one donation.

There is also a robocall going about that may or may not be associated with the Trump campaign, where they are asking for $35. The voicemail says …

“To secure the border and stop criminal gangs, drug smugglers and human traffickers, it’s a tremendous problem. President Trump wants to send bricks to Chuck and Nancy for every donation of at least $35 right now. That’s why we need your help, now more than ever to get these bricks sent, so Chuck, Nancy and the Democrats know you’re serious about helping President Trump secure the border and fund the wall. So please press 1 now to support President Trump by donating and getting your brick sent to Chuck and Nancy. Again press 1 to donate, that’s on your keypad to donate now, press 9 to unsubscribe.”

I came across these stories in several media venues, including The Hill and Newsweek. I liked what one Newsweek reader, Philip Bergeron, suggested:

Meanwhile … remember a while back when I reported that a GoFundMe account had been set up by a man named Brian Kolfage for the purpose of financing Trump’s border wall? Kolfage was asking that every American contribute $80. Well, as of January 9^th, it was reported by MarketWatch that the account had raised $19.7 million. Now, that’s quite a bit shy of the $5.7 billion that Trump is demanding only to make a start on his blasted wall, but it is still an astounding figure! I am stunned and appalled that more than 346,000 people had no better sense than to donate an average of $56.94 to a wall that is not needed, is not wanted, and is one of the biggest hoaxes of modern times!!! Fools!!! I can actually feed my family for a week on $56.94 if I try!

However … two days later, on January 11^th, GoFundMe announced that they would refund all donations after Kolfage made a strange change to the wording of the account. Whereas in the beginning, he claimed that ‘every single penny’ would go directly toward building the wall, he later added the following verbage …

WE EXPANDED OUR MISSION! We are no longer just funding the wall, we are now BUILDING the wall.

Eight days before Christmas I started this GoFundMe campaign because I was tired of watching the U.S. government’s inability to secure our southern border. Like most Americans, I see the porous southern border as a national security threat and I refuse to allow our broken political system to leave my family and my country vulnerable to attack.

The plan of action was simple and straightforward to raise money to construct a wall on our southern border. We have raised over $20 Million from 325,000 plus donors and we are only just getting started! I have been literally overwhelmed and inspired by the outpouring of support, calls, and emails from American citizens who support our efforts to Build the Wall. I got some hate as well but that was easy to ignore with all the positive feedback I was getting. I immediately sought out and consulted with some of our country’s leading professionals in law, politics, national security, construction, and finance. This team has spent countless hours over the holidays reviewing all issues pertaining to the construction of a southern border wall. Unanimously, we have all come to the conclusion that:

The federal government won’t be able to accept our donations anytime soon.
We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border.
Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications.
Our team strongly believes that we can complete our segments of the wall for less than half of the government’s estimated costs on a per mile basis.

It was also discovered that Kolfage has a history of running sites that promoted conspiracy theories and racist content. A BuzzFeed News investigation published Thursday found that Kolfage allegedly pocketed money donated to a previous GoFundMe account he started for wounded veterans. Nice guy, huh? Fits right in with the rest of the Trumpeters. Although GoFundMe is refunding the money of all who donated prior to January 11^th, the campaign is still open and people are still donating, for I saw no less than ten donations that had come in within the two hours before I visited the site.

I would be willing to bet that many, if not all of the people donating to any of these schemes are in the bottom half of the income scale and can ill afford the money they have thrown away. Surely it is only the under-educated and uninformed that would be so foolish? Sigh.

Filosofa's Word

Cogito Ergo Sum

Tag Archives: GoFundMe

Good People Doing Good Things — Ruby Kate Chitsey