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Everyone is dealt a different set of cards in life; some people have more opportunities than others. For some people, a job cleaning a house for two bucks seems like a rip-off. But for one woman, it was the windfall she needed that day. What she didn’t realize was that the house she was cleaning would eventually be hers.
Parents don’t always know what their kids are going to do when they get out there in the world by themselves. All they can do is hope that they did a good job instilling values and teaching their kids how to leave their corner of the world a better place.In that case, the parents of a six-year-old boy named Bailey must be especially proud after he traded in a bagful of toys for the chance to help someone else.A Wonderful SurpriseIn May 2020, popular social media stars Paul Klein and Paul Wood shared a remarkable video to their Facebook page, Woody & Kleiny. In it, they brought Wood’s six-year-old son, Bailey, to London and offered him $600 to buy anything he wanted from Hamleys, the city’s oldest toy store. They told the kid he had 30 minutes to pick out anything he wanted: Toys, games, sporting equipment. It was a dream come true for the child.“Let’s do this!” he shouted excitedly before running into the store and checking out all kinds of cool things.“He’s going to go for whatever’s the biggest,” the duo speculated, saying that kids have no concept of money and that they were curious what he would actually put in his bag.An Unexpected TwistAs Bailey filled his orange shopping bag with coveted items, a look came over his face. Suddenly he started putting things back.“I’m taking all this off,” he said, restocking shelves. “I don’t care.”Once everything was put back, Bailey headed outside and asked for some of the money, saying he knew what he wanted to spend it on. He then led the cameras down the streets and put the money in the cup of a homeless man with a sign."Daddy always buys me toys and he needed it more than I did because he hasn’t got a house."Bailey Wood“I feel happy,” he told the camera. “Lots of people don’t have that much money so like, I just want to give it all away… Daddy always buys me toys and he needed it more than I did because he hasn’t got a house.”Heartwarming ReactionsAs Bailey walked back toward the store, he explained that he realized all of a sudden that the money would be good for that man, plain and simple. Back in front of the store, Bailey told his dad what he did and why. Suddenly, his dad was fighting back tears.“Well this is going to be a good video,” Wood joked, choking back tears and hugging his son. “I’m proud of you.”Wood wasn’t the only one who was touched. The comments section quickly filled with people who were equally inspired by the actions of this little man.“You must have been the proudest parent ever that day. Absolutely wonderful, selfless thing to do,” wrote one person.“What an amazing young man you are raising! Total credit to how he is being raised, you should be so proud of him as he should be of himself. Just made my day watching this,” wrote someone else.Faith in the Next GenerationIf you’ve ever wondered whether the world will be in good hands with the next generation, this video is the only answer you need. Kids are capable of all kinds of great things, even when we least expect it.It’s a nice reminder that if we do our best and try to be good people, our kids will hopefully see our examples and follow suit. So donate that extra dollar to someone who needs it, give time to a charity or a worthy cause, and remember that we all have a story, no matter what our current circumstances may be.Children see everything, even when you think they’re not paying attention. By modeling the behavior we hope them to have, one day your kids may just surprise you the way Bailey surprised his dad.More from Goalcast:Parents Find Out Their 9-Year-Old Son Has Given $15 to His Teacher – The Reason Why Brings Them to Tears9-Year-Old Boy Gives $1000 Bike He Just Won To His Friend Who Didn’t Have One8-Year-Old Girl Visits Walmart With Her Mother – The Next Day, an Employee Calls Her an “Angel” for This Reason
Working in the service industry is more than just taking customer's orders and hoping for a good tip. There's a lot of spinning plates — literally. Servers are typically on their feet for their entire shift. If the restaurant is short-staffed and busy? Shifts can often last 12 or 14 hours. The holidays are coming up, if you're eating out, this is your reminder to tip well! Servers routinely handle heavy trays, deal with rude customers (whoever came up with the saying 'the customer is always right,' never worked a double on New Years Eve), and are exposed to all kinds of potential diseases and sickness on a daily basis. If you've ever been a server, you get it. If you haven't — trust that it's not as "easy" as it looks, that's just a sign you have an experienced server. A lot of the job is providing service with a smile — and looking good while doing it. But there's one restaurant chain in particular that gives "looking good" a whole new meaning. Of all the restaurants a server could work at, Hooters may be the most infamous for its controversial uniform (and name). But one waitress who works at the contentious chain proved, that even though she may have big...hooters? She has an even bigger heart.The Lengths One Waitress Went for Customer ServiceInstagram/ Mariana_Tolentino7For a restaurant that's primarily known for keeping the booty shorts industry alive and their world famous "naked" chicken wings (honestly top tier eats) — an unexpected act of altruism emerged from such an unlikely place."I said, I have two kidneys...do you want one of mine?"Mariana VillarrealMariana Villarreal, works at a Hooters restaurant in Roswell, Georgia. The 22-year-old woman recently made headlines when it was discovered that she offered one customer, the gift of a lifetime...the gift of life, that is!When Mariana Villarreal had learned, a "regular" Donald Thomas was going through a health crisis, she sprung into action. 72-year-old Donald Thomas is a war veteran, who lost his beloved wife to cancer. It was a tragic twist of fate when the longtime patron lost not one, but two of his kidneys — to cancer.For Mariana, it was a no brainer.At 22 years old the incredible waitress made the brave choice to donate one of her kidneys to a longtime Hooters guest, 50 years her senior. Of course, the next step was a bit more complicated. Mariana and Don needed to know if they were a viable match. The kindney donor transplant waitlist can be anywhere from 3 to 5 years. In light of Don's dire situation, he didn't have that kind of time to lose.They Were a “Perfect” MatchFinding a kidney donor match is no easy task. Statistics say siblings have a 25% chance of being an "exact" match — not exactly comforting odds. With no living relatives to lean on, the cards were stacked against Don. Thankfully, luck was in his corner!Despite their large age gap, the pair were thrilled when doctors told them they were able to move forward with the surgery. Tests had confirmed they were the "perfect match." For a pretty terrifying scenario and daunting procedure, the results couldn't have been any better. Villarreal and Thomas both successfully underwent surgeries at the Piedmont Transplant Institute in Atlanta. Instagram/ Mariana_Tolentino7Not only was Mariana's kidney a perfect match but doctors were reportedly amazed by how quickly Thomas’ kidney began functioning post-surgery! Villarreal's incredible and quick act of bravery not only inspired her Hooters family, but her incredible story spread quickly and has touched many lives around the world.Watch The Full Video Here:She Did It for Her GrandmotherVillarreal admits, Donald's story resonated with her so deeply, because recently she lost a dear family member to kidney failure — her grandmother.Mariana hadn't been working at Hooters for very long when she offered Donald one of her kidneys. In fact, Donald revealed the two didn't even know each other that well when she came to his aid. Her surprising act may have left more than one person scratching their head, but Mariana revealed Donald's health crisis was one that was so close to her heart."I wasn't able to do anything for my grandma," Mariana said, getting emotional. "If he can live two more years, happiest he's ever been, that's completely fine to me. It's not up to me, I did my part. Now it's God's part to keep him alive."This selfless act of kindness transcends the boundaries of familiarity, proving that compassion can come in the most unexpected places. It's a shame some people look down on those who tirelessly slave away in the service industry — you can't measure someone's kindness by their paycheck or profession. Mariana's beautiful story reminds us it's important not to judge a book by its cover.Thankfully, this story has an even happier ending, when Hooters put a new spin on the old saying — sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the most to spare!The Hooters Family Doubled Down on Kindness and Donated Thousands to CharityHooters gave a whole new meaning to service with a smile. In a press release, Hooters shared how Mariana's heroic act inspired them so much that they decided to do their part. Let me to tell you, it was no small feat. The restaurant chain donated $20,000 to the National Kidney Foundation, serving Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi, in Mariana Villarreal’s name!“Mariana is an absolute inspiration, and we’re honored to call such a selfless and compassionate person one of our own.”Terry Marks, Hooters CEOIt's no secret the restaurant chain has recieved its fair share of backlash. Hooters came under fire after some staff took to TikTok to mock their new uniforms. However, it seems Hooters works even harder offset their unconventional business model, by giving back, big time. Critics of the chain may not know this, but "Hooters Girls" support and raise funds for a number of partners and nonprofit organizations that directly impact the local communities Hooters serves! The restaurant has raised over $10 million to local and national non-profits. Just last year, the chain raised over $660,000 for Breast Cancer Research.In the world of service industry superheroes, where kindness often goes unrecognized, Hooters not only redefined service with a smile but also proved that actions speak louder than uniforms.More from Goalcast:Woman Who Was on ‘Most Wanted’ List Didn’t Hesitate to Donate a Kidney to the Officer Who Threw Her in JailWoman’s Dog Saves Her Life by Sniffing Out 1-In-22 Million Kidney Donor During Trip to the BeachPastor Donates Kidney to Stranger He Just Met – During the Surgery, Doctors Make a Shocking Discovery
“It takes a village” might be one of our favorite family quotes, but this story is even more proof there’s truth to the saying. When Kim Bellus learned her son was ineligible to take the bus to school, it was a neighbor who stepped in with remarkable kindness to help them out.The Long WalkPhoto by PixabayWe all remember those stories from our parents about how they had to walk miles to school- uphill both ways in the snow -- when they were younger. But that exaggeration was actual reality for one resilient Nebraska mom and her young son in 2015, when they learned they weren’t eligible to take the bus.Kim Bellus and her son, Gabe, lived two miles away from his school, Carriage Hill Elementary. Because of local school district regulations, that meant they were inside of the border that would allow the second-grader to hop on a bus. And, since Kim was a full-time student and stay-at-home mom who couldn’t afford a car, that meant she and her kid had to walk for hours every single day to get him to and from the building.Worried about the upcoming winter months and concerned about how tired her kid was from the exhausting walk, Kim had a hard time staying motivated and wondered how long things could continue. Luckily, a local news outlet was interested in their story and their fortunes changed.Spreading the WordIn an interview with KMTV, Bellus revealed she didn’t mind the walk so much in the nicer weather, but it was about to get cold. Plus her son was so tired by the time he got to school, it was hard for him to focus. "I'm really tired when I get back," Gabe added in the interview.“[Walking] is no problem at this point, but it’s going to be a problem once the winds, let’s say, are 30 below,” Kim further explained to the outlet.After the report aired, a neighbor named Becky Novotny recognized Kim and Gabe. And so the next time she spotted them walking home after another long day, she pulled over and explained she too had a kid at the school and would like to help. She drove them home that day and made a deal with Kim to pick up Gabe and drive him home every single day. As a fellow stay-at-home mom to three, she understood the struggle.If I was in the same situation, I’d think I’d want someone to help me. It’s a small town. You’re there for everybody.Becky NovotnyA Positive ShiftAfter Novotny began giving Gabe rides, the boy’s mood shot up. The outlet reported he had better focus at school and seemed more energized not having to walk there and back every single day. With all of that time saved, he also joined the Boy Scouts, and secured a ride to those meetings too.I had nowhere else to turn... I greatly appreciate [the] help.Kim Bellus"I tried with the schools, I tried with the administration, I tried particularly with this school itself, and nothing was happening," Bellus recalled to the outlet.Getting InvolvedThis all happened because one mother saw another mother and her kid struggling and decided to help. How many people watched the pair walking for months and just kept driving? How many educators were concerned about the boy’s energy levels in class, but chose not to do anything because of regulation? This story is a reminder that sometimes it just takes one person to step in and offer to help for a young family’s entire world to change.Rather than wait for someone else to be that change, we could probably all step in more to help those in our communities too. Offering rides to single moms or struggling parents isn’t just a time-saver, but it may allow them more opportunities in the long run. It isn’t just rides we can help with either. Cooking and dropping off a meal, picking up extra groceries, or even offering a tired mom a coffee can make a world of difference in her day.Because again, it takes a village. And no one should have to go through this parenting journey alone. More from Goalcast:Elderly Driver Yells at Kids for Spraying Perfume in the School Bus – Receives $125,000 After Her Rant Is Caught on Video7-Year-Old Boy With Autism Is Terrified of Riding the School Bus – Drivers Have an Unexpected ResponseInspiring School Bus Driver Sends Kids Home With a Letter Parents Can’t Ignore
James Anderson is a father, a plumber, and to many in the United Kingdom, a "godsend."In 2017, Anderson closed his private business and devoted himself entirely to helping disabled and elderly people with their plumbing issues -- for free (with that said, here are some kindness quotes).Why a Plumber Didn’t Charge an Elderly WomanAnderson made the decision to entirely commit to not-for-profit work when a receipt that was posted online went viral. It showed that he charged a 91-year-old woman with acute leukemia £0 for the job."No charge for this lady under any circumstances," he wrote, as shared by Metro UK. "We will be available 24 hours to help her and keep her as comfortable as possible."Why One Man Isn’t Worried About Being in $10,000 DebtTo do this saintly work, Anderson has gone into £8,000 of debt -- but he isn't too worried about it."To me, debt is debt… I would rather owe some money to somebody and another person be alive and happy and safe," he told Metro UK (Here's how to get out of debt).It’s an ethos that’s in my heart and it will always stay there.James AndersonWhy One Plumber Is Being Called a ‘Godsend'To pay for his supplies and costs, Anderson launched a fundraising campaign that pulled in £49,309 over the 42 days it was live.During the campaign, he filmed heartwarming videos with some of the people he helped, including this one:Anderson's work might not be as popular as supporting those impacted by war or hunger, but it's necessary nonetheless. "I don’t want any person who is elderly and disabled in this country, in this day and age, to die or suffer because of a cold home or a lack of funding to repair the boiler," he said. "It shouldn’t be happening -- that number should be down to zero. Simple as that."Help Others in Unexpected WaysThere is a serious problem in our society when disabled people and our elders -- our moms and dads, sisters and brothers -- don't have enough money to fix their broken toilets or showers. Sadly, without someone like a child to look after them, these people can be forgotten.Fortunately, the world still has people who use their skills for good, like James Anderson did. The lesson here is to help someone in need -- it can really mean the world to them.More from Goalcast:Frail Elderly Woman Dines All Alone at Cracker Barrel – Then, Strangers Witness Three “Big Burly” Men Walk Up to HerConstruction Worker Waves at Elderly Woman Looking Through a Window – Later, She Writes Him a Note That “Crushed” HimBus Driver Suddenly Stops While on Her Usual Route – Surprised Passengers Witness the Exchange She Has With an Elderly Woman
*Featured image contains photo by SHVETS productionIn the biting cold of a South Dakota winter, Amy Hartsoch and her husband Erik, a couple from North Dakota, found themselves face to face with a man in a wheelchair struggling up an icy hill. His single leg and the treacherous conditions made the ascent nearly impossible.Amy, moved by compassion, couldn't turn away. They halted their journey to help Wayne, the man in need, pushing his wheelchair up the slippery slope. Little did they know, this act of kindness would transform not only Wayne's life but theirs as well.How Strangers Stepped in to Help a Homeless ManAs the wheels turned and the hill was conquered, they discovered Wayne's heartbreaking reality — he was homeless, relying on the kindness of someone who had paid for his motel room for a brief respite from the bitter cold."I was on my second night at a motel which was going to be my last night," Wayne revealed.Amy, hearing more of Wayne's story, felt the pull of empathy. Their decision was spontaneous yet profound — they paid for his room for an additional week. But the chain of generosity didn't end there.Compelled to share this story of compassion, Amy took to Facebook, seeking support to extend Wayne's stay during the winter. The response was overwhelming. Friends and family rallied together, contributing over $6,300 — enough to ensure Wayne's shelter and warmth until mid-April. They didn't stop at monetary assistance; the outpouring of goodwill provided food, a new wheelchair, and essential items.How One Act of Kindness Changed a Homeless Man’s LifeOn her Facebook page, Amy joyfully shared, "Because of the love and generosity of ALL OF YOU.. we raised $6,350 for Wayne!! THANK YOU For giving and helping someone in need!"Wayne, deeply moved, expressed, "I wasn't expecting the blessing." His prayers for help, uttered just two days before encountering Amy, were seemingly answered.With gratitude in his heart, Wayne dreams of transitioning from the motel to an apartment, his hopes kindled by the unexpected angels, Amy and Erik.In a reflection of her faith, Amy shared Wayne's sentiment, "I'm a man of faith. God brought Amy into my life." Her words resonated with a profound truth, "God is real, He is here, He is at work!" It's a testament to the belief that small acts of kindness, like helping someone up an icy hill, can have a ripple effect, changing the world for one person.More from Goalcast:Rude Men Told Woman Who Uses a Wheelchair She ‘Wasn’t Worth Loving’ – Then This Man Got Down on One KneeWoman Needs $5,000 to Fix Her Broken Wheelchair – But Strangers Take Her by Surprise and Raise $22,000 InsteadJennifer Lawrence Sees a Fan in a Wheelchair Crying – So She Rushes off the Red Carpet to Give Her a Hug She’ll Never Forget
*Featured image contains photo by Kindel MediaMalaysian lawyer, Ahmad Zaharil, has had his fair share of memorable clients over the years. Specializing in narcotics cases, he has spent three decades seeking justice in the courtroom. But despite working some high-profile cases, it was a simple case of petty shoplifting involving a desperate mom and a pencil case back in 1998 that will go down as the one he'll never forget. Because not only did he change the woman's life that day, but 25 years later, he discovered he had a dramatic impact on her son's life as well. What Happened When a Poor Woman Was Arrested for Shoplifting a Pencil CaseTwo decades ago, Zaharil was finishing up a case when the police walked into the courtroom with a distraught woman in handcuffs. Seeing her distress, Zaharil asked her what happened.She admitted that she had been caught shoplifting a pencil case; a gift for her 10-year-old son.The woman, who worked as a cleaner, had promised the pencil case to her son if he earned top honors on his school exams. He came in first in his class. Wanting to keep her promise, but unable to afford the pencil case, she resorted to stealing it from the local supermarket. And while the pencil case was only worth $3.95, it came at a steep cost — jail time and fines. Zaharil, a father of five, worried about what would happen to her son if she ended up in prison. He immediately took on her case, pro bono. A Lawyer Works for Free but Receives the Most Valuable PaymentIn a TikTok video that has been viewed more than 1.4 million times, Zaharil shares that after confirming the woman's story about her son with the school headmaster, he attempted to have the charges dropped.He even went so far as to offer the supermarket owner double the price of the pencil case, pleading for mercy. A request the owner denied. “I offered the supermarket proprietor double the price of the pencil box and pleaded with him to have mercy on the woman. However, he refused and wanted to proceed with the case,” Zaharil said.Thankfully, the judge wasn't so merciless. With Zaharil's help, the mother got off with a promise of good behavior. But that's not all she got.“Before she left, we passed the hat around and collected a couple of hundred ringgit contributed by court staff, policemen, and me," Zaharil told The Star.“We handed over the money to the woman. She left after expressing her gratitude and I never saw her again.” The lawyer thought that was the end. But for the woman's 10-year-old son, it was just the beginning.Fast Forward 25 Years...In 2018, Zaharil was once again in court. This time, a stranger walked up to him. In an amazing full-circle moment he said, “Hello, sir. You may not know me, but I am the son of the cleaner you helped 20 years ago. Remember the pencil box case?"He explained that his mother had pointed the lawyer out after seeing him on the news. “I searched for you and am so glad to meet you," the young man continued before dropping the bombshell, "I am a practicing lawyer now, sir.” All because 25 years earlier, a young lawyer had the heart to help out a mother who just wanted to keep her promise to her little boy. “I almost fainted when he told me who he was. It was heart-warming and one of the happiest moments in my life." Ahmad ZaharilSince their first meeting, the two have become close."He is like a son to me. We would visit each other during Deepavali and Hari Raya,” Zaharil added.He Set Out to Help One Woman, He Ended Up Changing Two LivesIn September 2023, the National Press Club of Malaysia presented Zaharil with the NPC-Macrokiosk Muhibbah Award for his act of kindness. An act he says was in the spirit of brotherhood. “I helped because she is a fellow Malaysian. Here in Malaysia, despite our diverse backgrounds, our differences are minute, but we have similarities. We can live in harmony as one big family.”He plans to continue to pay it forward, using the cash prize to feed the homeless. With one simple act of compassion, Zaharil not only saved a desperate mother from prison but also inspired her son to follow in his footsteps. Today, that once-impoverished child is a lawyer in his own right.Kindness doesn't cost anything but its impact can be priceless. You never know just how much you can change in a person's life, just by doing one small act of kindness at a time.More from Goalcast:Frugal 86-Year-Old Carpenter Passes Away – But Before He Dies, He Tells His Lawyer His Shocking Secret16 Years Ago, He Faced Up To 20 Years In Jail – Thanks To A Judge’s Verdict, He’s Now A LawyerHigh School Dropout Becomes Lawyer And Frees Her Innocent Brother From Prison
Unfortunately, bullying is still pretty common in the United States. Nearly one out of every five students (about 20%) report being bullied during the school year. Being bullied in your neighborhood is just as rough because no one wants to be uncomfortable or feel unwelcome in their own community.That’s how one little boy was feeling when he began ringing on neighborhood doorbells in Texas recently. Dejected from the continuous bullying, he was in search of friends — fast.A Desperate PlightIn July, 11-year-old Shayden Walker rang the doorbell of his neighbors Brennan and Angell Ray. He was looking for friends. “I just wanted to see if you knew any kids who are like, 11, 12, maybe cause I need some friends,” he said. “Really bad.”In the video, which Brennan later posted on TikTok, you can hear the father explaining how a couple of kids live a few houses over. “Ok, well, they’re not my friends anymore because they’re bullies to me. They keep bullying me,” Shayden explained.He then offered to be friends with Brennan and Angell’s two-year-old. Touched, Brennan promised that if he saw Shayden around, he would stop and chat with him. But he knew he needed to do more. So he and Angell started a GoFundMe to help this kid find some friends.“My main thing, I was thinking of Shayden. I was thinking about how this is going to make this kid’s summer, it’s going to change his life possibly, so he was like really what was on my mind, just making sure that he’s happy and can make some friends,” Brennan told an ABC News outlet.The Situation Goes Viral The video touched a lot of other people as well, and the story quickly went viral. Within the first hour of posting the GoFundMe link, they had raised $2,000. The initial goal was $7,000, as Brennan and Angell figured they might be able to help Shayden get a gaming system and some new clothes or maybe even a couple of amusement park tickets.Five hours later, however, they had already raised $10,000.“Before I could get off work, we had passed $20,000, and so it was honestly, it was mind-blowing how fast it happened,” Angell said. “We were honestly hoping to get to Shayden and his parents before they had seen it, but it had gone so viral that there was no way.”When Shayden’s mom, Krishna Patterson, saw the video, she was thankful for the neighbors who wanted to help her son.“When I was able to see the video and see the pain in Shayden’s eyes, I realized that these people were just good-hearted, literal walking angels who wanted to do something good for a boy they saw in pain,” she told the outlet.Putting the Money to Good UsePhoto by Mikhail NilovAs touched as Krishna was, she knew there were other families and kids out there who needed the money more than her son did. So she asked the couple to turn the fundraiser off, but not before it reached nearly $40,000.“After I and Shayden talked about it, we agreed to donate some of that,” Krishna added, explaining the funds would go towards tornado victims and to the war in Ukraine.Meanwhile, others have responded in really sweet ways. Whataburger’s official account offered to send Shayden and his new friends to get something to eat on them. Howie Mandel reached out. Jake Paul reached out and is interested in having Shayden catch a fight and do a meet-and-greet. Many random people have offered to help send him to Disney, and even more reached out with offers to help him forge new friendships through camps, classes, and sports.For Brennan, the entire experience was a lesson in compassion and understanding.“Easily, I can say off top don’t ever judge anybody by how they look, how they talk, how they act, because you never know what somebody is going through, you never know the struggles that are going on within themselves, at home, so just be kind to everybody and be aware of the situation,” he said.Everyone Can Make a DifferenceThe biggest takeaway for Angell was how it only took a couple of people to make a big difference in one little boy’s life. “We are just two normal people in Amarillo, Texas, so just one person having the courage to step out and ask for friends leads to another person having the courage to step out and ask and spread awareness on bullying, so it’s just been a great chain reaction of amazing things happening,” she said.It’s proof that if you want to make a difference, all you need is yourself. By being brave and speaking up, you can inspire many others with your words and resilience.If you see something wrong, don’t be afraid to step in for what is right. If the situation seems dangerous, call for help. And most importantly, remember that one person can make a difference by listening, helping others, and using their skills for good.Brennan and Angell did exactly that when one little boy came knocking, and they inspired a nation as a result.More from Goalcast:Teen Finds Out His Classmates Are Bullying His Best Friend for His Old Shoes – So He Saves Up $135 and Does ThisGrocery Store Worker Completely Changes This Lonely Widower’s Christmas After She Invited Him to DinnerDesperate Mom Puts Out Ad to Hire Friends For Lonely Son With Down Syndrome — The Response is Shocking
According to the nonprofit Feeding America, 1 in 6 children go hungry across America.This can manifest itself as a child going to school without breakfast or whose parents can't afford to buy their lunch.Children Denied LunchWhen Jeffrey Lew heard about how students can be denied lunch -- or even humiliated -- if their parents don't keep up with payments, he was appalled."[I was] reading up and watching the national media of the lunch shaming crisis -- how other schools have tossed the lunch because a kid did not have enough money or stamped on the arm saying, 'I owe lunch money,'" Lew told ABC News. Just from hearing that news coverage it kind of broke my heart as a father. I can't imagine having one of my children coming home from school saying, 'Hey, I was denied lunch because I owed money.'Jeffrey Lew to ABC NewsFundraising to Help StudentsAt Lew's son's school, there was an outstanding debt of $97.10 -- nearly $100 that could make the difference between a child going hungry or having a quality lunch as Lew said students who couldn't pay would still get fruit and milk.So, the father of three did something about it. "I think parents are so busy in their work life and different things where they forget to send their children to school with lunch money...there could be parents that are in a tough financial situation that we don't know about and can't afford it," Lew told ABC News. We just don't know what these kids or families are going through. No kid should go hungry regardless if they have money or not.Jeffrey LewHe set up a GoFundMe to pay the school's lunch debt -- but he didn't stop there. In just five days, Lew raised over $23,000 -- enough to pay the lunch debt at 90 schools in Seattle. Even singer John Legend donated $5,000 to help further the cause. Since surpassing the original goal, Lew decided to raise $50,000 to erase the lunch debt in neighboring districts. Be the ChangeThe world is filled with injustices -- we read about them on the news every day. And there are many, many things that stay the same. But sometimes, there are things we have the power to change.This father noticed injustice in his community and took the necessary action to fix it. But then something extraordinary happened. One relatively small act of kindness ballooned into something bigger to the point that it got national attention.It just goes to show that if you put your mind to helping others, even with a small gesture, it can make a huge difference.More from Goalcast:12-Year-Old Reaches Hotel to Have Lunch – Is Shocked to Find Out Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Has Taken on a “New Job”Southern Church Notice That Kids in Their Community Are Going Hungry at School — So They Pay Off Lunch Debt for the Whole Community8-Year-Old Upset When Friend Is Denied Hot Lunch – What He Does Next Teaches All of Us an Important Lesson
Homelessness is a phenomenon that can feel far away for most of us, but is sometimes closer than we think. All it takes is one bout of bad luck, an illness, or a job loss. It can be easy to judge those who find themselves living on the street, but it should be even easier to show the less fortunate some kindness.This was the case with Joe Wilson, who would stop and chat every weekend with a homeless man who stood outside of his favorite weekend breakfast spot. Weekly EncounterOne of Joe Wilson’s most treasured weekend rituals is grabbing a special breakfast from his go-to cafe in Glasgow called Old Salty’s.Each time he goes to pick up his breakfast, he buys an extra coffee, which he gives to a homeless man who sells a magazine called Big Issue, outside of the restaurant. The man, named Daniel, and Joe chat every weekend, and have developed a friendship over time.Before falling into homelessness, Daniel was a chef. Unfortunately, he lost his job and was living on the streets selling magazines to get by. "Joe is such a nice guy, he comes down every week and always comes over for a chat and buys me a coffee. He isn’t a rich guy or anything, he is just a brilliant, kind man," Daniel said.Paying It ForwardOne Saturday morning, Joe went into Old Salty’s as usual to get his special breakfast, when he was told by the cashier ringing him up that his meal had already been paid for -- by Daniel! Joe was stunned, but still bought Daniel his usual coffee. Joe thanked Daniel, who was smiling ear to ear, for his kindness and generosity. Daniel told Joe that he had won some money from a scratch lottery ticket, and he had decided to use his winnings to treat Joe for all of the kindness he had been shown throughout their friendship. Joe was stunned when he later learned that Daniel had not actually won any money, he had been putting money aside to be able to show Joe how much he appreciated his weekly chats and coffee. Today, I did the same as usual but when I went to pay for my breakfast, the girl in the cafe told me it had already been paid for...by Daniel. He’d won £20 on a scratch card and decided he was going to treat me for a wee change.Joe WilsonShowing Appreciation Even though Daniel barely makes enough to get by, he wanted to show his appreciation for the kindness shown to him. We can all take a cue from Daniel and be more thoughtful about how we show our love and gratitude to those who improve our lives. More from Goalcast:Strangers Call Mom a “Whale” in Front of Everyone – Instead of Getting Angry, She Buys Them CoffeeHomeless Man With Photographic Memory Gets a Cup of Coffee at McDonald’s – Unexpectedly Ends Up With $100,000Thieves Vandalize 65-Year-Old Starbucks Barista’s Car – So Fellow Employees Take Matters Into Their Own Hands
