Community Corner

21 Good News Stories: Water, Then Gifts, Gush In; 'Miracle' Baby

Speak for yourselves, loyal restaurant patrons tell vandals; filling bellies with love; Santa looks like you; a dog lives his best life.

Rafelina Moreno holds her adopted son, 2-year-old Liam, the sole survivor of an arson fire that killed his mother, sister, grandfather and the spiteful guest who set the fire after his hosts asked him to leave.
Rafelina Moreno holds her adopted son, 2-year-old Liam, the sole survivor of an arson fire that killed his mother, sister, grandfather and the spiteful guest who set the fire after his hosts asked him to leave. (Photo courtesy of Denise Moreno)

ACROSS AMERICA — Do you know what makes communities more than just a place to live? Acts like these:

Neighbors in Nicole Green’s adopted hometown of Beverly, Massachusetts, were all in after her family lost nearly everything in a freak flood in their apartment. A water pipe burst, unleashing a torrent of water that collapsed the walls and ceiling of their apartment.

“It was like a typhoon lagoon,” Green told Patch. “It was nuts.”

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The day after the catastrophe, Green called her children’s school to let officials know they might miss a few days of hybrid learning. Word spread, of course, and gifts flooded in to get her family back on their feet. Green said “it was overwhelming to get so much support.” By Scott Souza for Beverly Patch


(Photo courtesy of Nicole Green)

Neighbors responded similarly in Tinley Park, Illinois, after a fire tore through an apartment building, displacing four families and destroying their belongings. But in less than 24 hours, community members in the village raised thousands of dollars and donated clothes, games, furniture and other gifts to help them.

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Jennifer Yolich, whose sister was among those who lost everything in the fire, said the response makes her proud to live in Tinley Park. “I can’t believe the amount of support we’ve gotten in such a short time,” she said. “Our phone lines are blowing up … we’re both sitting here trying to hold back tears because we can’t believe the support that’s coming out. It’s truly unbelievable.” By Yasmeen Sheikah for Tinley Park Patch

(Photo courtesy of Jennifer Yolich)

Below are 19 more uplifting stories from Patch editors across America:

“Miracle” Baby Home For The Holidays

On Thanksgiving Day, Denise Moreno (top photo) put a sampling of turkey, mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes into a blender. She had a special guest to feed, and he wasn't yet ready for solid food. In puréed fashion, her godson, 2-year-old Liam, enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner in East Elmhurst, New York. Liam, the sole survivor of an arson fire when he wasn’t yet a year old, was many miles away from the hospital room where he spent his last Thanksgiving, recovering from burns that covered 95 percent of his body. He was released from the hospital to go home with his adoptive parents. “He proves that every day is a miracle,” Moreno told Patch. “We've got a long way to go, but we're thankful for the point we've come to.” By Maya Kaufman for Astoria-Long Island City Patch


Hate 0, Love 1

Restaurants have had a hard go in 2020, and on Thanksgiving night, a couple of vandals made the situation worse at the Urban Grill and Wine Bar in Foothill Ranch, California, after becoming upset about a “takeout meal gone wrong,” police said. The vandals tagged the front window with red paint, scrawling a message dripping with hate at a longtime member of the restaurant’s crew, and sealed the front door locks with a cement compound. Residents responded. “You have done so much for your patrons,” one of them wrote, recalling how the restaurant stepped up to the challenges presented by the quarantine in March by delivering food all over town. “I am glad that you are bigger than this.” By Ashley Ludwing for Lake Forest Patch

(Photo courtesy of Kimberly Smith/Urban Grill)

It Started With A Heartfelt Plea

When Clearwater, Florida, residents were asked in a Clearwater Patch Neighbor Post what they are most thankful for this Thanksgiving, resident Thomas Larsen responded that he was homebound and handicapped, and would be thankful for a Thanksgiving meal. Several residents responded, and now they’re planning something on a grander scale: Christmas dinner deliveries to local families in need. By D’Ann Lawrence-White for Clearwater Patch

(Photo courtesy of Harbor Dish)

Getting Grandboys’ Gobble On

Just as soon as he realized he’d won a $168,000 lottery prize, Weddington, North Carolina, resident William Bailey started spending it. As soon as he picked up his prize, he headed to the grocery store to buy Thanksgiving dinner for his neighbors. “At least 10 or 20 turkeys, and we’re gonna put everything together in a box, and we’re gonna find people to give them to that need it. I want my grandboys to do it because I want them to know what it feels like to help somebody.” By Kimberly Johnson for Across North Carolina Patch


Bellies Filled With Love

“What’s understood never has to be explained,” Calabria Restaurant and Pizzeria explained in a Facebook post inviting Livingston, New Jersey, residents who lost their paychecks to the coronavirus pandemic to stop in and get a free meal or ask for a food delivery — no questions asked. “Please don’t let yourself or your kids go to sleep with an empty stomach,” the post read. “No one has to know and we will pretend it never happened.” By Eric Kiefer for Livingston Patch


Woody, Buzz Lightyear Take On Hunger

Hunger in America has increased dramatically with the pandemic-related job losses and business failures, and what started out as a fun quarantine endeavor for a Connecticut family has turned into a fundraising effort for Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization. They’ve raised more than $32,000 with their video based on “Toy Story,” which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. By Chris Dehnel for Southington Patch

(Photo courtesy of Dan Presser)

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Ending The Food Desert

Residents of South St. Petersburg, Florida, again have a local place to buy fresh produce, something they haven’t been able to do for almost four years, thanks to 53-year-old Nikkol Patton. She saw an increased need for a local grocery store shortly after the pandemic began, so she created South St. Pete Marketplace, a farmers market close to home for residents who are struggling to afford taxis and ride-share services. By Skyla Luckey for St. Pete Patch

(Skyla Luckey/Patch)

Santa Looks And Talks Like You

It took a pandemic for Santa and Mrs. Claus to fully join America's national conversation about race and equality. Black Santas, Spanish-speaking Santas and Santas fluent in American Sign Language have always been around for people who know where to look, but professional opportunities at malls and other businesses have been scarce. Walt Geer and Sarah Blackman, of Alpharetta, Georgia, are providing Santas who look and talk like the kids they’re talking to through their JingleRing virtual Santa visits. And the North Pole has joined the #MeToo movement. By Beth Dalbey for Alpharetta-Milton Patch


Scouts Help Save Christmas

Christmas wreath sales have been a major fundraiser for many years for the Knights of Columbus fraternal service organization in Exeter, New Hampshire. When the normal supplier fell through, the fundraising drive was in jeopardy. That is when Exeter Boy Scout Troop 323 stepped in to assist. The partnership has benefited both organizations, while also teaching important lessons about entrepreneurship. By Tony Schinella for Exeter Patch

(Photo courtesy of Les Bihari)

A Big Assist From Sports Teams

It has been more than one full year since the Marblehead, Massachusetts, girls volleyball team last took the court for a competition together. It has been nearly 18 months since the girls lacrosse players last walked off the field following a hard-fought game. While players in both programs await a hopeful return to working together in practices and contests over the next six months amid the coronavirus health crisis, those players found a way to work together for the greater good in recent weeks through a nonprofit group’s Holiday Cheer Drive benefiting children in need and adults who are homeless. "This experience has really been really eye-opening, and we are all really excited to get the chance to make a difference this holiday season,” senior lacrosse player Abby Kalinowski told Patch. By Scott Souza for Marblehead Patch.

(Photo courtesy of Killeen Miller)

#KiltTheVirus

No one is more worn down by the pandemic than the front-line medical workers, who see the death and despair wrought by the coronavirus every day. Dr. Marc Milano is known for sporting funky attire to boost morale at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in Somerset, New Jersey — and with a second wave taking deaths and illnesses to record levels, he decided to up the ante by wearing kilts to work. “It's like being at war,” he said. “You don't know what you went through until you are out of it and then to go back again.” By Alexis Tarrazi for Hillsborough Patch

(Photo courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset)

Sweet Ride For Sweet Cause

When New Jersey faced a shortage of personal protective equipment, middle school shop teacher Jason Erdrich knew he had the know-how to address it. He bought 15 3D printers and turned his home into a makeshift factory, then recruited other shop teachers and students to help crank out 12,000 pieces of PPE for hospitals, nursing homes and local front-line workers. His wife nominated him for the “Mazda Heroes” recognition program, which came with a sweet prize: a Mazda MX-5 Miata, 100th anniversary edition. By Josh Baken for Madison Patch

(Photo courtesy of Mazda)

NFL First For Women

Callie Brownson, 31, achieved a milestone for women when she made history as the first female to serve as a position coach in a regular season NFL game. The Mount Vernon, Virginia, coach filled in for Cleveland Browns’ tight ends coach Drew Petzing, who was out for the birth of his first child. She assumed the interim role after being named chief of staff for the Browns’ head coach, Kevin Stefanski. By Emily Leayman for Greater Alexandria Patch

(Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Technology Fatigue Cure: Fresh Air

Waltham, Massachusetts, teacher Tedd Markos has been searching for ways to put “physical” back in the PE classes he’s been leading in online classrooms. "Being outside with nature, I've read, helps children sustain their attention and even work on regulation," he said. "I just see them through the screens and wanted to get them outside." He came up with an idea that is keeping them engaged — the “Fresh Air Challenge” — and it’s catching on, explaining why Waltham residents are likely to see kids filming themselves doing loops on their skateboards and showing off their dance moves. By Jenna Fisher for Waltham Patch

(Photo courtesy of Jason Ciccariello)

Sing It For Carter Rubin

Friends and family in his hometown — and fans across Long Island and the nation — were cheering Tuesday night as Carter Rubin, a 14-year-old from Shoreham, New York, advanced to the next round of "The Voice" singing competition. He is now one of the show's top nine performers. On Monday, Carter sang Mariah Carey's "Hero" then waited for viewers to cast votes. As it was announced on the show Tuesday that fans voted him through to the next round, his supporters went wild on social media. By Lisa Finn for Riverhead Patch

(Trae Patton/NBC)

S.O.S.

Stuart Bee was lost at sea for two days by the time the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated his rescue Sunday. The 63-year-old missing mariner was found clinging to the hull of his capsized 34-foot vessel about 86 miles east of Port Canaveral, Florida. The Coast Guard’s Lt. Shawn Antonelli said the chances of finding him alive were slim, but staying with his boat helped save his life. By Tiffany Razzano for Orlando Patch

(Photo courtesy of U.S. Coast Guard)

Living His Best Life

Unlike many in 2020, and despite a terminal cancer diagnosis, Theo the dog has been living his best life. This has everything to do with his foster parents, Jenny and Scott Leach, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, who took the 12-year-old golden retriever in this past summer after he was abandoned in a Walmart parking lot. They later learned he had testicular and pancreatic cancer, and due to his age, chemotherapy and other treatments were not an option. So they’re checking items off a bucket list they created for Theo — and you have to click into the story to see all he’s been up to. By Amie Schaenzer for Crystal Lake-Cary Patch

(Photo courtesy of Jenny Leach)

Well, Hello There, Franklin

A baby tamandua — a type of anteater native to South America — was born recently at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, and is growing stronger by the day after what zoo staff called several “critical weeks” when he needed extra feedings and monitoring to ensure his survival. He is named in memory of his father and is spending time time bonding with his mother, Carina, before he’s ready to meet the public. By Rachel Nunes for Cranston Patch

(Photo courtesy of Roger Williams Park Zoo)

And Finally, What In The World?

The mystery of the monolith may be just what 2020 needs. No one knows how or why, but a metal obelisk has been showing up in the oddest places — Utah’s Red Rock Country, near one of the seven wonders of Romania, and now in the mountains of Southern California. Uniformed sleuths don’t know what to make of all of this and posted a lineup of other-wordly looking “suspects.” By Megan VerHelst for Across California Patch

(AP Photo/Terrance Siemon, File)


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