Good News Americans #16

Up in Minnesota, a charitable organization was holding a drive at Christmas for families in need.  An 11-year- old girl handed the organization’s volunteer Santa a sad letter.  It read: “Dear Santa, for Christmas, I would like my mom to get a job, my mom’s spinal disease to go away, bills paid off, friends, and to stop being bullied.”  It was apparently the child who hoped Santa would help stop the bullying and bring her some friends.  Well, thanks to donations, this organization purchased some toys for the girl and her siblings, along with groceries, gift cards and other items for her family.  Said the group’s spokesperson: “Here’s a little girl that basically was selfless.  And all she’s thinking about is her family. We can’t change the world, but we can certainly make it better for this young girl and her family.” A terrific story of charitable giving among the hopefully thousands out there to able to round out the Christmas season with caring and good cheer.

Volunteers and supporters in Cache Valley, Utah come together to brighten the holidays for several deserving families with an annual effort called the Cache County Christmas Car Project.  Started by a generous local expert mechanic, damaged or simply older used cars are repaired, filed with customized presents, and donated to designated area families nominated by need. The refurbished vehicles, presented free of charge, are driven to each residence by a volunteer Santa, bringing surprise and joy upon arrival.  Remarked one recipient: “Thank you.  I appreciate it so much.  I wouldn’t have been able to do this without my community.”  Said one of the group’s volunteers: “Our mission is driven by the generous donations from individuals and businesses who believe in the power of giving.  Every car we repair, and gift, represents not just a vehicle, but a new opportunity for families to access jobs, education, and essential services.”  Another terrific story of community involvement to assist select residents to grow and improve their lives, through the caring of others around them.

Meanwhile, in Indianapolis, a good Samaritan stopped to rescue two baby girls (each less than 6-months old!), in car seats, who had been left in a ditch, out in the cold, along the side of the road, after the car they had been riding in was apparently stolen.   Police received the call at about 11:00 AM and officers were “beyond grateful for the gentleman who intervened.”  The two infant girls were fine, thanks to the timely aid from that good Samaritan.  The car theft investigation continues, with no arrests yet made. How often the help of others makes all the difference in averting possible tragedy.

Just 30-minutes before two St. Pail, Minnesota police officers were due to end their shift, they got the call that a woman was apparently trapped inside a home on fire. They quickly arrived and first tried to force their way in through a kitchen door at the home, but the thick smoke drove them back.  Finally spotting the elderly woman through a window.  They somehow managing to get that window open, after which one office lifted the other one up high enough to climb in and rescue the understandably frightened woman. They then got her out and away from the smoke and flames to safety. This dramatic rescue was captured on the police officer’s bodycam. Just another example of a citizen’s life saved through the bravery of first responders, this time by two daring police officers, ignoring their own safety, who after a previously quiet shift, were close to clocking off for the day and heading home!

For reasons unexplained, on Christmas Day in the late afternoon, a NYC taxicab jumped the curb in front of Macy’s Department Store injuring a passer-by and actually trapping two persons underneath the cab! Several nearby good Samaritans managed to help. One bystander got in and shut off the motor. Then said one of those involved: “There was a whole group of us that ripped the fender off, lifted the car back, and that’s when I noticed a little boy underneath, grabbed him and got him onto the sidewalk.  Then I realized that what ended up being his mom was still underneath!”   The 41-year-old mother and her child, along with one other person struck, were hospitalized.  No report on their injuries.  The cab driver was also taken to the hospital, but again no report on injury or mental state.  Huge thanks again to the passers-by who jumped in to assist, quite possibly saving one life or two, rather than simply continuing on by the accident scene.

A few days before Christmas, and 8-year-old Arizona boy came upon some kids terrorizing a kitten, even “using it as a football.”   To get them to stop, the quick-thinking lad loaned the misbehaving youth his skateboard as a distraction, while he rescued the abused kitten and ran home.  “Mom, said the young boy, the cat is very hurt. Can we keep it? Can we fix it?”  His mother took the kitten to the nearest Humane Society, while the unruly kids ran away with the skateboard!  The Society was impressed with how her son had reacted: “Mon and Dad have raised a good young man here. They have taught this child how to care for something, and give up something personal, in order to help another creature.”  Due to resulting infections in the kitten’s eyes, sadly they had to be removed.  The Humane Society was so impressed by this young man’s courage and caring that they replaced his lost skateboard!  The family decided to adopt the kitten, now named ‘Peaches,” along with paying for the substantial surgery, adoption examination, and medicine fees.  A great young man who dared to care, and his really good family who did teach their son how to be responsible.  Happy ending all around!

Back in September 2024, an estimated10,000 students from 67 universities came to the University of Arkansas for a Christian revival event, with reportedly several hundred desiring to be baptized.   Earlier, the organization, Unite US, had held a similar event at the University of South Carolina drawing 4,000 students who “gathered to worship Jesus.”  At least three other U.S. universities were said to have held similar worship and baptismal events.  Along with the large increase in Bible sales across the country, these college student worship gatherings are strong and encouraging news that religious dedication, at least among the college age and above young people, would seem to be on the increase, which is certainly a positive for spirituality growth in America.

And one other significant news item regarding religion.  Near Malibu, California, following an area wildfire that caused evacuations, burning a reported 4,000 acres, somehow a plain white wooden cross, held in the ground with cement on a moderate hillside, somehow survived, as the fire came close to Pepperdine University.  Fraternity members from Pepperdine had placed that cross on the hillside in 2018 to honor a murdered female student. Said the university about the fire and the cross: “Somehow He spared it, as if He wanted us to have something tangible to hold onto to help us through the difficulty we just went through.”   A welcome mini but very meaningful miracle for those in the area, as that fire burned thousands of acres and destroyed or damaged 39 structures in its path.

And concluding this edition on another high note, an extremely thoughtful, caring, and generous anonymous New Orleans individual recently donated $1-million to help 50 Louisiana Habitat for Humanity homeowners remain in their homes.  Said the local Habitat organization, “We’re seeing people doing without essential things like healthcare.  They’re changing the way they eat. They are scrambling to figure out any other way to make extra money to make ends meet.”  This huge donation was an exceptional way to make a significant difference in the lives of many families currently facing, among other financial challenges, a significant recent increase in annual home insurance costs. A wonderful gift by a very good person, just two weeks before a decidedly evil individual purposely drove a truck into masses of gathered New Years revelers in downtown New Orleans, killing 15 and injuring many more.  Good vs. evil personified, with, on the latter side, tragic results.

(Fact Sources: Little girl’s unselfish wish for Christmas, via breitbart.com, Olivia Rondeau, 12-22-24; Utah community donates cars and gifts to improve neighbors loves via brietbart.com, Amy Furr, 12-12-24; Two baby girls abandoned by the side of the road via breitbart.com, Katherine Hamilton, 12-6-24; Police officers save woman from a burning house via dailymail.com, Kelly Garino, 11-26-24; Good Samaritans lift NYC cab off a mother and child via breitbart.com, Olivia Rondeau, 12-26-24; Young boy rescued a very young kitten being mistreated via dailymail.com, Emma Saletta, 12-13-24; College students in impressive numbers attending campus religious gatherings via breitbart.com, Amy Furr, 9-21-24; Wooden white cross near Pepperdine University survived large wildfire via breitbart.com, Amy Furr, 12-15-24; Donor gives large sum of money to aid Habitat for Humanity homeowners in New Orleans via breitbart.com, Olivia Rondeau, 12-14-24.)