11 Good News Stories: Kidney Bean’s Promise; Pizzeria’s Special

ACROSS AMERICA — The gift a Waukesha, Wisconsin, woman gave her mother-in-law held the promise of life.

It was a single kidney bean in a box, a symbol of the much-better gift that radio host Elizabeth Kay wanted to give her mother-in-law, who learned the week of Christmas that she was in stage 4 kidney failure and needed a transplant.

Kay told Patch’s Karen Pilarski she was crushed when she learned she was a poor match for her mother-in-law. But she was determined not to break the promise of the kidney bean.

Her kidney is a perfect match for someone else. And her mother-in-law will get a kidney that’s perfect for her through the paired kidney exchange program. By Karen Pilarski on Waukesha Patch

Below, read 10 more uplifting stories from Patch editors across America.

Pizzeria’s Thursday Special Really Is

Thursdays are always hectic at Niko’s Pizzeria in downtown Joliet, Illinois. In addition to keeping up with the walk-in customers who have made the pizzeria a local favorite, the kitchen staff was busy one recent morning with another group — topping 100 Italian beef sandwiches with hot peppers and mozzarella cheese, then packaging with them with an order of fries and handing them out to folks who otherwise might go hungry. "We're doing it for the homeless people and the poor people,” Niko’s owner told Patch’s John Ferak. “We're trying our best to help the community and those in hard days.” By John Ferak for Joliet Patch

What “The Chalk Granny” Will Remember

Mary Kay Mitchell is a cult hero. She’s known as “The Chalk Granny” in her Redwood City, California, neighborhood, all because she started sketching colorful chalk drawings in her neighborhood to ease her boredom soon after shelter-in-place orders took effect last March. One of the 68-year-old grandmother’s chalk drawings was of a heart that said, “When this is all over, what will you remember?” Mitchell ruminated on it, thinking, “‘What will I remember?’ And so then every single week, I would draw something new.” By Gideon Rubin for Redwood City-Woodside Patch

Hot Dog! Look Who Has A Cameo

The happiest hot dog vendor in Oak Lawn, Illinois, is taking his popular Chicago-style dogs to the next level: Netflix. Fans of the streaming platform's latest mystery thriller "Tiny Pretty Things" — which focuses on the brutal world of professional ballet in Chicago — will recognize Oak Lawn's very own Clyde Anhalt handing out hot dogs to ballerinas. But the retired United Airlines mechanic was a local celebrity first, taking his hot dog cart all around the city until he landed a prime spot at the public library’s cafe space. "People really seem to enjoy it," he told Patch’s Gillian Smith. "We've even started catering parties — not just dropping off food, but bringing the cart and making the hot dogs on-site. It's all part of the experience." By Gillian Smith for Oak Lawn Patch

Cops Are Midwives

Norberto and Gina Chaves sure didn’t plan on Lucas being born at their Cranford, New Jersey, home. But Mom suddenly went into labor with no time to get to the hospital. Her water broke and the baby’s head was crowning, and the situation was complicated when their son emerged with the umbilical cord wrapped around his neck. Two patrolmen on duty took the emergency call and stepped into the roles of midwives to deliver the healthy baby boy. By Caren Lissner for Cranford Patch

A Gift Of Independence

The pandemic has illustrated just how essential teachers are — no one teacher more worthy of support than another; but in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, a math teacher with special circumstances felt the love and support of his community. Tom Gallagher was paralyzed in a freak accident in 2011 and, almost a decade later, found himself in need of a new handicapped-accessible van. In a month and a half, the community had raised the $40,000 he needed to get around and maintain his independence. By Jenna Fisher for Chelmsford Patch

Salute To A Man Who Earned It

Anthony Marino has given a lot to his country in more than a century of living. The Army veteran served the nation honorably during World War II. The East Haven, Connecticut, man was the commander of an American Legion post, ran for the state Senate and served as his community’s animal control officer. Folks around East Haven thought he deserved a parade when his 105th birthday rolled around, and they weren’t about to let the pandemic stop them. By Ellyn Santiago for East Haven Patch

Saving America’s Symbol

It’s rare for people to knock on the door of the fire rescue station in Pasco, Florida, and Jerry Brown was surprised when two visitors tentatively knocked on the door. He opened it to two young children cradling a bald eagle — America’s symbol of strength and freedom — in a towel. They had found the usually fierce and powerful bird exhausted and lacking the strength to struggle in the unfamiliar hands holding it. A fishing hook stuck out of the bird’s beak, and fishing line wrapped around its wing prevented flight. The bird is soaring again, thanks to the care at a nearby wildlife sanctuary, where other animals that fall prey to human activity — click in to see the photos — also get a second chance at life. By D’Ann Lawrence White for New Port Richey Patch

She Surely Had Them With Her Eyes

Tala has an important job. And just one look into the mesmerizing eyes of this former shelter dog shows she’s up to it. A few times a week, after police officers in Eatontown, New Jersey, come back to the cop shop after a high-stress calls, Tala is there to offer emotional support. "It is really such a simple concept when you think about it," Eatontown Police Chief Bill Lucia told Patch’s Carly Baldwin. "Anybody can have a dog at home, but having a dog at work has proven to be very impactful in assisting officers coping with stressful situations. It has also had a significant impact on the overall morale of the department." By Carly Baldwin for Long Branch-Eatontown Patch

A Network Of Optimism

Kristin Ericson is a perpetual optimist. The director of Missing Dogs Massachusetts never lost hope that a family moving from Salem Woods to Maine would be reunited with their dog, Zoey. The dog slipped out a door left ajar by movers on Dec. 2, and the heartbroken family had to leave without her. “Neighbors saw her try to come back to the old house a few times,” Ericson told Patch’s Scott Souza. “But anytime they saw her, she was running. She was terrified by everybody.” But Ericson has built a grapevine with her organization, and Zoey was found 40 days later. By Scott Souza for Salem Patch

Nature’s Presents

It’s not all that uncommon to see a harbor seal swimming in the East River, a salt water tidal estuary connecting the Upper New York Bay and Long Island Sound. But cooped-up New Yorkers are gaining a new appreciation for the wildlife they’re sharing space with and are actively seeking them out. Among them is Mary Beth Kooper, who spotted a seal swimming in the estuary and spent 15 minutes watching it from a rocky outcropping on Randall’s Island. By Nick Garber for Upper East Side Patch

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