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Womans Childhood Classmate Used to Pack Her Lunch - Years Later, Does Something Incredible to Honor Her
Uplifting News

Womans Childhood Classmate Used to Pack Her Lunch - Years Later, Does Something Incredible to Honor Her

*Featured image contains photo by olia danilevich and Oleksandr PAnyone who has ever experienced food insecurity knows that it never really leaves you. Those hunger pangs, even when they're long gone, linger, a phantom reminder of darker days.When Haley was in third grade, she knew those pangs well. Her family was struggling and there was never enough to eat. One of her classmates noticed and would pack an extra lunch for her. Her name was Gracie May.Although the two classmates lost touch after fourth grade, Haley never forgot her. Years later, Haley had a daughter...she named her "Gracelyn Marie" in honor of that little girl.How a Young Girl Made a Lasting ImpressionIn a TikTok video that is shattering hearts everywhere, Haley (@bby_hxxii) shares an emotional 7-second clip she simply captions "Angels are real."Set to the haunting lyrics, "I think of you all the time," from Alex Olsen's song, Someday I'll Get It, the video zooms in on Haley as she blows a kiss.“To that sweet girl in 3rd grade that would bring in an extra lunch box with food just for me, thank you so much. I named my daughter after you," Haley writes in the text overlay.Welp. It may be simple but boy, does it pack a punch. One commenter summed it up in 8 words:"'I named my daughter after you' I'm sobbing."The video has struck a nerve. In just a few days it's gone viral with over 2.8 million views, 630,000 likes, and more than 4800 comments.Its message has resonated with people all over the globe, a poignant reminder of the profound impact of kindness.Reaction to the Viral TikTokThousands of people took to the comment section, touched by Gracie's actions and the way Haley chose to honor her."Love how you honored her," wrote one commenter."Her mama was looking out for you," said another. "I hope she sees this. kindness always comes back," said a third.But in addition to all of the love, it also started a tsunami of goodness. People began sharing their own stories, hundreds of them. And if these doesn't restore your faith in humanity, nothing will.Here are just a few:"I had the same bday as one of my classmates and every year her mom did a big party in the classroom for her and my name would always be on the cake too." — Britney"When I was in 7th grade, a popular girl (never talked to her) heard that my mom couldn't afford Christmas for me that year. Her & her mom went Christmas shopping for me and brought me gifts to school. I will never forget that. I think of it often and hope she's well." — Ambria"My son noticed a quiet kid in his class w holes in his shoes/clothes. He came to school the next day w clothes he didn’t want. - the boy wears his new outfits daily & my son says he tells jokes now." — Alli"I remember a teacher that would call me to class before going home to give me 4 cans of raviolis for me and my 3 siblings. I never told her but she knew." — neener-neen"The boy that danced with me at the primary school dance when no else would ~ who passed away a few years later from cancer. Always in my heart." — Clarel892"My mom named me after the first friend she made when she moved to America." — L"I used to hate my smile until one girl told me she loved my side dimples. every time I smile I think of her to this day because she made me appreciate it instead of hating it." — Ana NjeriOne Small Act of Kindness Can Change Someone’s WorldAfter grade four, Haley moved from Texas to Arizona. It's been 13 years since she's seen Gracie but not a day goes by that she doesn't think about her. THAT is the power of kindness.To Gracie, it was probably just lunch. To Haley, it was the world. And she never forgot it. And now, neither will her daughter."To live rent free in someone's head for an act of kindness is something we should all strive for."More from Goalcast:Child Realizes Hungry Classmates Don’t Have Lunch – So He Makes an Unexpected Request to His Mom“Homeless” Man Insists on Paying for an Expensive Lunch at Restaurant – So the Server Tells Him a LieMom Has Perfect Response to Teacher Who Called Her Son’s Lunches ‘Disgusting’ – Then She Receives a Shocking Email

Dad in Wheelchair Steals the Show: The Touching Story of the Dance That's Gone Viral on TikTok
Uplifting News

Dad in Wheelchair Steals the Show: The Touching Story of the Dance That's Gone Viral on TikTok

They say that one moment can change your life and no one knows this better than Charles Potter. In 2006, he was hit by a drunk driver in Winchester, Virginia. The man responsible got four and a half years in prison. Potter was sentenced to life in a wheelchair.But despite not being able to walk, Potter doesn't let that stop him from dancing. And his favorite partner? His 6-year-old daughter, Charlize.Recently, Potter's wife, Rhonda Conrad, captured the father-daughter duo on stage taking part in a dance recital. She uploaded the incredibly heartwarming and poignant performance on TikTok, where it quickly went mega-viral. Grab the tissues, you might need them.Viral TikTok of Special Daddy-Daughter DanceCaptioning the clip, "They learned their dance 4 days before performing...few tweaks to accommodate her daddy. Don’t drink & drive!!" Conrad also added a text overlay that reads:"When your daddy was hit by a drunk driver but doesn't let it stop him from ALL the things."Set to the song, "Half the Man," Potter and Charlize join the rest of her dance class onstage. And that's when the magic begins...because THIS is what it looks like when a dad shows up for his daughter. Take a moment to see for yourself.The video has garnered over 13 million views, 2.2M likes, and over 37,000 comments. And honestly, it's easy to see why. Not only is it a beautiful moment between a father and his daughter but it's also a powerful display of unconditional love in action. But what makes this moment even more special is the backstory behind it.The Accident that Changed a Father's Life"When the accident happened when I woke up, I couldn't move anything from my head down. I couldn't really move my head, I had to be turned in the bed, stuff like that," Potter told Good Morning America. "I had to relearn how to do everything from crawling, eating, like I had to relearn everything." While this would have taken down the best of us, Potter persevered. He credits his faith for helping him maintain a positive attitude through a long and grueling recovery. "Just knowing that everything happens for a reason kind of helps me keep the smile on my face, keep the positive attitude. I'm still here. It could be worse. It could have been worse."It's a can-do positive attitude that he's carried with him into fatherhood. So when Charlize asked him if he wanted to dance with her, he didn't hesitate."My youngest is doing ... a dance hip-hop chair class. And they had these daddy-daughter dances and she asked if I was up to, you know, doing them with [her]," he explained. "I was like, 'If you want to. Yeah, absolutely. We'll make it work.'"They've been dancing together ever since. A Daughter Doesn't See Limits, She Just Sees Her DadThe viral TikTok isn't the first time the duo has danced together. They've performed on stage before and are planning another dance in May.Potter and Charlize spend two to three weeks leading up to each recital practicing and modifying their moves in the living room, using videos of the choreography to guide them.Charlize knows that because her dad is in a wheelchair he is limited from doing certain things. Having only ever known him as a quadriplegic, it doesn't faze her."She's always questioning, she wants to know things," Potter said of his daughter. "But she just knows her dad is in a wheelchair from being hit by a drunk driver. Pretty much. That's it." He continued, "And she knows I'm limited to doing certain things and whatnot. And she just kind of goes with the flow." It sounds like she's definitely her father's daughter. Inspiration to Live ByLiving life in a wheelchair was never part of Potter's plan. But he hasn't let it stop him from living his life to the fullest. Or from being a devoted and loving father who stops at nothing to show up for his daughter. A true hero indeed.Not only does this father's story speak to the power of love between a dad and his daughter, but it also speaks to the power of a positive attitude. Something Potter hopes people apply to their own lives when times are hard. "No matter what situation you're in today just put one foot in front of the other and get through it -- because whatever situation you're in today, it's not going to last."He also encourages people that when times get tough, you just gotta keep on rolling."They say God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers. So, no matter what, he's not gonna put you through nothing that you can't get through...Just never give up. Keep your head up. Keep rolling, keep stepping. Things will get better for sure."And no matter what, just keep on dancing.

9-Yr-Old Girl Takes Initiative And Saves Family From Being Evicted With One Bold Move
Uplifting News

9-Yr-Old Girl Takes Initiative And Saves Family From Being Evicted With One Bold Move

Natalie Koltes and her family were living in an apartment but unable to keep paying the rent. With eviction looming, 9-year-old Ariel asked for help.She reached out to Fox5 Surprise Squad, which bails out Las Vegas families in need."My mom is trying so hard to make ends meet," Ariel wrote in the letter. "I don't want my mom to be under so much pressure.""Please help us with the rent so my mom can focus on getting better," Ariel added."I want her to know someone is there for us."Ariel KoltesHelp on the wayIn the 2014 video, Natalie is seen hugging the Fox5 reporter, who promised to pay not just the rent that was due, but also rent for the month after that so they could get back on their feet.The news station also gave Ariel a gift card for school supplies. "Well, I thought that we needed our rent to be paid because she kept on packing and unpacking and it kind of scared me," Ariel said. "I was afraid we wouldn't have anywhere to go.""The stress of just unpacking and packing. I don't want to keep losing things," Natalie said.Ariel was also invited back to The Boys and Girls Club for free."If it wasn't for my daughter I wouldn't be alive. She's my hero."Natalie Koltes"I have to help her. She's my mom," Ariel concluded.Ask for helpThere is so much wealth in the world, yet for some bewildering reason, there is still inequality, poverty, and hunger. Thankfully, this world is also filled with wonderful people that want to help—and sometimes, to get that help all you need to do is ask, as this little girl so wisely did.More uplifting news:Brooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For OthersA State Trooper Pulled Over A Doctor For Speeding But Gave Her N95 Masks InsteadLandlord Saves Family From Homelessness After Father Lost His Job8-Year-Old Boy Starts Business, Saves Family From Homelessness And Buys Mom A Car

Devoted Dad Works 3 Jobs And 7 Days A Week To Surprise Daughter With $200 Dream Graduation Dress
Uplifting News

Devoted Dad Works 3 Jobs And 7 Days A Week To Surprise Daughter With $200 Dream Graduation Dress

Couldn't afford daughter's dream dressDespite working three jobs—at McDonald's, Popeye's and a Circle K convenience store in Monongahela, Pennsylvania—Ricky Smith struggles to get by.So he was a bit resistant when his 14-year-old daughter, Nevaeha, asked for a $200 dress to wear to her 8th-grade graduation."I said, 'Mom, dad, I want this dress,'" said Nevaeha, according to Good Morning America. "Is it in our price range?""I looked at the price and I was like, 'Uh, not really sure, but I can see what I can do,'" Ricky recalls saying. He worked 7 days a week to buy itRicky wouldn't promise his daughter the white top and floral skirt, but he worked hard for it anyway. He took on extra shifts at his three jobs, working as much as seven days a week.Finally, he managed to buy the dress and Nevaeha's mom encouraged him to surprise his daughter with it."She said, 'Why don’t you surprise her?'" Ricky told GMA.Teary-eyed revealSo Ricky invited Nevaeha to his workplace and her mom came along to video the big reveal."I was working at McDonald’s that day and I put the dress in the back," Ricky told GMA. "She came and I brought it out and told her that her grandmother bought it for her and I told her, 'This ain’t the dress you wanted, but I hope you like it.'"Nevaeha was devastated."I was thinking, 'This is going to be an old lady dress,'" she said.But it was precisely the dress she asked for. She burst into tears and hugged her dad in a video that has since gone viral."To see the look on her face it was priceless," said Ricky to GMA. "All I can really do was smile.""My heart felt like there was more love in it than there was before," said the 14-year-old about the big reveal. "I love him and I’m really happy that’s he’s my father."Nevaeha SmithThe satisfaction of hard workWe can't always get our kids everything they want. In fact, we shouldn't, as not always getting what you want is something they need to learn about life.But when we can, it's especially sweet to buy our kids gifts because we love them and want to make them happy. And sometimes, because we want to lead by example. So this story isn't just about an amazing dad putting a smile on his daughter's face, it's also about the importance of working hard and the sense of gratitude that that can bring.More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For OthersWether it's saving someone at sea or giving up your plane seat, kindness makes a lasting impact.

Mom Finally Reunites With Missing Daughter After 14 Long Years Apart
Uplifting News

Mom Finally Reunites With Missing Daughter After 14 Long Years Apart

In 2007, a 6-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped by her father. Fourteen years later, she finally came home.Police couldn't solve the kidnapping caseAngelica Vences-Salgado hadn't seen her daughter since December 22, 2007 when the girl's father allegedly abducted her, according to BBC News.At the time, police issued a felony warrant for the father, Pablo Hernandez, but couldn't come up with much except that the pair may have traveled to Mexico.Police eventually dropped their search for the girl, Jacqueline Hernandez, and the case went cold.A long awaired reunionFast forward to September 2 of this year and police cracked open the case again. According to a press release from the Clermont Police Department that was shared on Facebook, Vences-Salgado told police she was contacted on social media by a girl claiming to be her daughter.Police coordinated with various departments including Homeland Security Operations and ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations to "intercept" the now 19-year-old girl and see if she was who she claimed to be.After speaking to police, Vences-Salgado agreed to meet Hernandez on the border with Mexico in Laredo, Texas. Meanwhile, police looked into Hernandez's documentation and she checked out — the girl was who she said she was.People were blown awayThe comment section of the Facebook post was lit up with positive comments, including "This is wonderful So glad to hear that they are back together where they belong."Another commenter wrote: "How amazing!! 14 yrs missing and she's now home with her mom. Never give up hope !!"Never lose hopeThat last Facebook comment is exactly right. In our lives, bad things can happen that set us off course. But if we hold onto our resolve and never lose hope, amazing things can happen like this reunion after 14 long years. More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Dad Who Was Laid Off Lands Costco Dream Job After Daughter Sends 1 Tweet
Everyday Heroes

Dad Who Was Laid Off Lands Costco Dream Job After Daughter Sends 1 Tweet

When one father lost his job during COVID, his awesome daughter took to Twitter to help him land his dream job.Dad's top recruiterAccording to the Wall Street Journal, up to 40 million jobs were cut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. One of these belonged to Rebecca Mix’s father, Jeff.Keen to help her dad bounce back, Mix took to Twitter and her 20,000+ followers to promote her top candidate. “My dad has been laid off due to covid and now that he's vaccinated he's itching to go back to work, so I told him I'd help him with his resume. I asked him where he wants to work, and he said, SO earnestly, ‘Costco seems like a nice place’ I'm gonna cry lol,” she tweeted. Then, in the job posting pic of the year, she also shared a photo of Jeff wearing oven mitts, posing proudly next to a plate of nachos."He is but a constantly cheerful man, extremely good at making nachos, who merely dreams of working for Costco," she posts. "Costco ik ur not on twitter but if you see this please don't let him down, my dad is very nice. look how proud he is."New Costco memberJust two weeks later, Mix was contacted by a local Costco manager to arrange an interview with Jeff.Amazingly, her dad landed his job, with the shiny badge to prove it.Mix had a special message of thanks to Costco CEO Craig Jelinek.“Craig Jelinek if u see this I have no idea how u found my tweets but congrats on hiring my dad he’s the best thanks!!!!! also my dad already tried to convince me to sign up for a Costco membership lol. man hasn't even started yet. what have I done.”-Rebecca MixPositive tweets to daughter and dad poured in.“AWESOME! Congratulations to your dad — and to the Costco manager, who has probably just made one of the best hires in that branch,” wrote one Twitter user.Toasted another: “OMG Congratulations to Jeff long may he help people find things up on the tall shelves and have a $1.50 hot dog whenever he wants!!!!”Together we'll reboundIt's been a tough year and a half for everyone. It's been especially hard for those who are still out of a job. The future is still uncertain. Yet there's one thing that is certain: We'll only get through this together. Healing will happen through acts of kindness like a Linkedin letter, traveling takeout, or an awesome daughter like Rebecca Mix. The story might change but the theme is the same: Humans connecting to help humans. Every action we take and gesture we make impacts someone. More uplifting stories:Man Walks 17 Miles A Day To Provide For His Family, Stranger Surprises Him With $52KPoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others

Steve Jobs' Daughter Is Nothing Like Him - And He'd Be So Proud Of Her
Family

Steve Jobs' Daughter Is Nothing Like Him - And He'd Be So Proud Of Her

Eve Jobs, the 22-year-old youngest daughter of late Apple founder Steve Jobs is a shining star. She's one of the world's best young equestrians, a student at Stanford, and a successful model in a new Glossier campaign. And she's nothing like her dad.Star equestrian, student, and fashion iconJobs might be the daughter of the founder of one of the world's richest companies, but her success cannot be attributed to her dad's money. For starters, Jobs is one of the best show jumpers in the world. According to Horse Sport, she's ranked fifth out of 1,000 riders under 25.One of her biggest successes came right before the pandemic at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, when she helped the US team earn a bronze medal and finished fourth overall individually."For me personally, one of my biggest achievements to date was producing a clear in the first team round in Lima," Jobs told World of Showjumping. "My hope is to continue progress with the US team. Of course, being able to compete at the Olympics and World Equestrian Games would be a dream."Eve JobsMeanwhile, Jobs is an excellent student. She managed to get accepted into an undergraduate degree at one of the most difficult schools to get into, Stanford University, where she's currently enrolled with the class of 2021. As of late, Jobs has made waves as a model, appearing in Glossier's Holiday campaign alongside Euphoria's Sydney Sweeney and RuPaul's Drag Race's Naomi Smalls. The photos of Eve used in the campaign were all self portraits, according to W Magazine.No inheritanceWhen Steve Jobs died, he was worth $7 billion, which included nearly $5 billion in shares of Disney, not Apple, according to Forbes.Today, Eve's mother Laurene Powell Jobs is the 35th richest woman in the world with a net worth of $27.5 billion, but she won't pass on the inheritance she received from Steve to her children.“I’m not interested in legacy wealth buildings, and my children know that,” she told The New York Times in February 2020. “Steve wasn’t interested in that. If I live long enough, it ends with me.”“It’s not right for individuals to accumulate a massive amount of wealth that’s equivalent to millions and millions of other people combined,” she added. “There’s nothing fair about that.” Instead of giving the money to Eve, Laurene has the same mentality as Amazon billionaire Mackenzie Scott and is giving a lot of her money away to philanthropy.Her dad would be proudThe dissimilarities between Steve and his daughter Eve are stark.For instance, Steve dropped out of college after just one semester. Eve is a student at Stanford. But the late founder would undoubtedly be proud of his youngest daughter, and we know that he had high hopes for her before he died.Jobs told Walter Isaacson, the author of his bestselling biography, that he could see Eve running Apple one day, or even becoming president of the United States. "She's a pistol and has the strongest will of any kid I've ever met."Steve JobsIt's so amazing to see how well Eve is doing despite not having her father there to raise her. It's even more incredible to know that she's well on her way to being extremely successful, even without the promise of Steve's inheritance.We don't know exactly what Steve would say about Eve today, but judging by his prior comments we can only assume he'd be proud. How couldn't he be?More uplifting stories:4 Years Ago, He Was Homeless–Today, He Bought His First HousePoor Man Who Missed Job Interview To Save A Life Had Employers Lining Up To Hire HimDomestic Abuse Survivor Marries The First Responder Who Saved Her LifeBrooklyn Landlord Cancels Rent For Hundreds Of Tenants, Setting An Unprecedented Example For Others