Good News Archives - My Modern Met https://mymodernmet.com/category/inspiring/good-news/ The Big City That Celebrates Creative Ideas Thu, 29 Dec 2022 13:44:39 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.3 https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-My-Modern-Met-Favicon-1-32x32.png Good News Archives - My Modern Met https://mymodernmet.com/category/inspiring/good-news/ 32 32 Woman Saves Man’s Life After Rescuing Him From a Snowbank During Deadly Storm https://mymodernmet.com/sha-kyra-aughtry-saves-man-buffalo-storm/ Wed, 28 Dec 2022 20:20:31 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=568620 Woman Saves Man’s Life After Rescuing Him From a Snowbank During Deadly Storm

There are everyday heroes among us, and Sha’Kyra Aughtry is one of them. In the midst of the deadly snowstorm that hit Buffalo, New York, she saved the life of a 64-year-old man named Joey White who was scared and crying for help just outside her front door. White is developmentally disabled, and when the […]

READ: Woman Saves Man’s Life After Rescuing Him From a Snowbank During Deadly Storm

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Woman Saves Man’s Life After Rescuing Him From a Snowbank During Deadly Storm

There are everyday heroes among us, and Sha’Kyra Aughtry is one of them. In the midst of the deadly snowstorm that hit Buffalo, New York, she saved the life of a 64-year-old man named Joey White who was scared and crying for help just outside her front door.

White is developmentally disabled, and when the storm hit he became stranded in a snow bank. With the frigid temperatures, he was in bad shape. Aughtry heard his pleas, and she and her boyfriend Trent found White and carried him out of the cold and into their home on Christmas Eve.

With White inside, Aughtry began to care for the man. He had been in the storm so long that his clothing was frozen to his body and his hands were frostbitten; she had to cut off his socks and remove his pants with the heat from a hairdryer. She covered him in blankets, but she knew he needed serious help—the frostbite was turning his hands gangrene.

Many emergency medical services were down, so Aughtry posted an urgent message on Facebook needing help. It took two days, but more kind strangers eventually came to the rescue. They plowed a path out of the couple’s home and helped get White to a hospital, where he had fourth-degree frostbite.

Before he could get to the hospital, Aughtry contacted White’s sister, Yvonne, and told her that she had his brother and was taking care of him. To keep White comfortable and take his mind off the pain before they could get care, Aughtry had him FaceTime with his sister.

White remains in the hospital as doctors monitor his frostbite, but he will survive. In the meantime, his sister cannot thank Aughtry and her family enough. “I’m sure he would’ve perished,” she said in a video. “I told Joey, we gained a family… [Aughtry] went above and beyond, for a stranger, what she did is just heartwarming and it makes me cry.”

Sha’Kyra Aughtry and her family rescued a man named Joe White, a 64-year-old man with developmental disabilities, from a snowbank in Buffalo, New York.

Aughtry removed his frozen clothes and wrapped his frostbitten hands until they could get him to a hospital.

h/t: [Neatorama]

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READ: Woman Saves Man’s Life After Rescuing Him From a Snowbank During Deadly Storm

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Buffalo Couple Takes in 10 South Korean Tourists Stranded During Massive Snowstorm https://mymodernmet.com/south-korean-tourists-stranded-buffalo/ Tue, 27 Dec 2022 21:15:22 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=568469 Buffalo Couple Takes in 10 South Korean Tourists Stranded During Massive Snowstorm

Buffalo, New York, is amidst a “once in a generation” snowstorm. The severe weather has delivered a massive amount of precipitation and extreme temperatures that have people stranded—including a group of South Korean tourists. Luckily, this pack of 10 people was fortunate to have their van stuck outside the house of Alexander Campagna and his […]

READ: Buffalo Couple Takes in 10 South Korean Tourists Stranded During Massive Snowstorm

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Buffalo Couple Takes in 10 South Korean Tourists Stranded During Massive Snowstorm

Buffalo, New York, is amidst a “once in a generation” snowstorm. The severe weather has delivered a massive amount of precipitation and extreme temperatures that have people stranded—including a group of South Korean tourists. Luckily, this pack of 10 people was fortunate to have their van stuck outside the house of Alexander Campagna and his wife, Andrea.

The couple had been planning on spending a quiet holiday weekend at home and had stocked plenty of food in their pantry. So, when they learned of the marooned group, they invited the tourists in and became “accidental innkeepers” while they spent an enjoyable weekend with their guests.

The group of tourists was traveling up the East coast and was en route to Niagra Falls. They had seen the sights in Washington, D.C., and were largely unaware of the impending storm. But the Friday before Christmas, the van was stuck after trying to maneuver the deteriorating road conditions. Two of the passengers knocked on the Campagnas' door and the couple immediately brought them in, “knowing, as a Buffalonian, this is on another level, the Darth Vader of storms,” Alexander said.

The visitors slept on air mattresses, on couches, in sleeping bags, and in a guest bedroom. Of the visitors, three of them spoke English proficiently. Together, they watched football and shared stories. The guests, surprised and delighted by the Campagnas' Korean food provisions, created a variety of tasty meals they would make at home.

The travelers appreciated the impromptu hospitality, and it was something neither party will soon forget. “It was kind of like fate,” remarked Yoseb Choi, one of the travelers who was on his honeymoon. Alexander echoed the sentiment, which he refers to as a blessing. “We have enjoyed this so much.” He and Andrea are now planning a visit to South Korea.

h/t: [Reddit]

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READ: Buffalo Couple Takes in 10 South Korean Tourists Stranded During Massive Snowstorm

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81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok https://mymodernmet.com/nola-carpenter-walmart-tiktok/ Sun, 25 Dec 2022 14:45:50 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=560930 81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok

Retail workers are heroes. They put up with long hours and angry customers, among a lot of other things. This work is hard on younger, able-bodied people, but it can really take a toll on a senior citizen. That's why it was so heartbreaking for TikToker Devan Bonagura (@dbon973_) to see 81-year-old Nola Carpenter sitting […]

READ: 81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok

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81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok
81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok

Photo: Screenshot from TikTok

Retail workers are heroes. They put up with long hours and angry customers, among a lot of other things. This work is hard on younger, able-bodied people, but it can really take a toll on a senior citizen. That's why it was so heartbreaking for TikToker Devan Bonagura (@dbon973_) to see 81-year-old Nola Carpenter sitting in the break room of the Walmart where she works. In the short video he shared, the woman appears tired and stares at the floor as if bracing for another portion of her shift. The video eventually went viral, earning over 30 million views and igniting a movement that would change Carpenter's life.

Although Bonagura didn't work at the Walmart himself, he happened to be there as he worked for a third-party company that sells phones at the store. He posted a short video of her with the message “Life shouldn't b[e] this hard…” and the caption “I feel bad.” Eventually, his followers urged him to find a way to support this woman, and it inspired him to open a GoFundMe campaign titled “Let’s help Nola retire.” The idea was to support Carpenter so she could finally hang up her blue vest.

The response was swift, and although the initial goal was just $10,000, 24 hours later over $100,000 had been donated. Two days later, he finally met up with Nola and told her how he had posted a video of her and how people had come together to help her. “They saw that you’re a very hard worker, obviously,” the TikToker told the woman. “We are all super proud of you, and we wanted to offer you the $110,000 that has been raised for you.”

A perplexed Carpenter replies that wouldn't be the end of it. “I’d accept it, but I’d still have to work until I get the other $60,000 paid off the house,” she explains. “That’s what’s holding me at work—the house,” adding that it wouldn't take as long with the donated sum. Eventually, it was announced in a later video that the additional money was raised for Carpenter to finally be at peace.

However, the hardworking woman disclosed that, despite reaching her goal, she won't retire until the New Year. “I'm going to help them out for the holidays, and after that, it'll be good to stay at home,” said Carpenter. She has worked at Walmart for over 20 years and deserves to spend her golden years lounging at home instead of at retail shifts. “I'm going to miss my customers. They look for me every day,” she said.

After TikToker Devan Bonagura spotted 81-year-old Nola Carpenter sitting in the break room of the Walmart where she works, a GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the woman retire.

@dbon973_ :/ I feel bad. #fyp #blowthisup #sad #walmart ♬ Jocelyn Flores – XXXTENTACION

The response was swift. The initial goal was just $10,000 but 24 hours later over $100,000 had been donated.

@dbon973_ Replying to @frejolebean let’s do it #fyp #help #blowthisup ♬ Jocelyn Flores – XXXTENTACION

The woman explained that she was working to pay off her mortgage, and donations eventually matched the sum she needed to hang her blue vest.

@dbon973_ WE LOVE YOU NOLA I HOPE THIS HELPS❤️🙏 #blowthisup #fyp #gofundme #nola #walmart #viralvideo ♬ original sound – DBON

Despite reaching her goal, she won't retire until the New Year, as she wants to help her team through the holidays.

@dbon973_ Update video with Nola ❤️ #nola #dbon #gofundme #viral #blowthisup #love #kindness #givingback ♬ original sound – DBON

h/t: [Bored Panda]

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READ: 81-Year-Old Woman Achieves Retirement After Strangers Raise $186K for Her Mortgage Following a Viral TikTok

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Heartwarming Video Shares Man’s Infectious Joy After Receiving His First Paycheck Ever https://mymodernmet.com/joe-sullivan-first-paycheck/ Sun, 18 Dec 2022 14:45:47 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=541973 Heartwarming Video Shares Man’s Infectious Joy After Receiving His First Paycheck Ever

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Bitty & Beau's Coffee (@bittyandbeauscoffee) What's better than your first cup of coffee for the day? Maybe your first paycheck, or even the thrill of landing your first job. It's no wonder that a video of Joe Sullivan receiving his first paycheck and the […]

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Heartwarming Video Shares Man’s Infectious Joy After Receiving His First Paycheck Ever

What's better than your first cup of coffee for the day? Maybe your first paycheck, or even the thrill of landing your first job. It's no wonder that a video of Joe Sullivan receiving his first paycheck and the infectious joy of his response has gone viral.

Sullivan was born with Down syndrome and was hired by Bitty and Beau's Coffee Shop in Melrose, Massachusetts, this past summer. But before getting his first gig as a “caller” for coffee orders, Sullivan visited the shop on an almost weekly basis with his mom. He was eventually given a ‘future employee' pin by the shop, and, according to his mother, he was “smitten,” and wanted in immediately.

Sullivan worked his first shift at the end of July. He has a unique way of calling customers' orders; rather than saying their names, he calls out the playing card that matches each customer's order. It's a far better method for anyone with communication difficulties.

After two weeks, Sullivan was handed his first paycheck, and the spontaneous delight that burst forth from him as he received the check was captured on video. “Joe's on cloud 9—he got his first paycheck!” the caption to the video reads. According to his mother, Joe was so ecstatic about the whole thing. “He wasn’t concerned with how much it was for. He loves going there to work.” Joe is saving his money and plans to do some holiday shopping with his first earnings.

People around the world are supporting Joe and his joy through their comments and responses to the video. There is also overwhelming support and enthusiasm for Bitty and Beau's inclusion policy, and their determination to offer employment without discrimination.  As employers, Bitty and Beau really believe in their people. “Our employees are trailblazers, paving the way for people with disabilities to be seen as valuable members of society and the workforce. Thank you to everyone who visits our shops and believes in our team,” the franchise writes in a Facebook post.

As its tagline states, Bitty and Beau's is more than a cup of coffee—it's an experience. The founders, Amy and Ben Wright, also call it a human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop. They have four children, Lillie, Emma Grace, Beau, and Bitty. Lilly is on the autism spectrum and Bitty and Beau have Down syndrome. Because well over 80% of people with disabilities are unemployed in the U.S. and statistics are even higher globally, the Wrights set out to create a path for people with disabilities to be valued, accepted, and included in every community. There are now 23 Bitty & Beau coffee shops across the U.S., all of which employ people with disabilities.

Being excluded from a workplace because of neurological or developmental differences can be detrimental to a person's mental health and self-esteem. In this way, Bitty and Beau's is changing lives and offering opportunities. People like Sullivan can now contribute with pleasure and purpose, and offer the best of themselves to the world.

The video of Joe Sullivan's infectious joy at receiving his first paycheck for his work at Bitty and Beau's Coffee Shop has gone viral. Watch Joe and his mom's responses to this wonderful moment when Joe received his first paycheck on this YouTube video:

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READ: Heartwarming Video Shares Man’s Infectious Joy After Receiving His First Paycheck Ever

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Biden Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Into Law, Reflecting Evolving Attitudes Towards Marriage Equality https://mymodernmet.com/respect-for-marriage-act-law/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 21:15:06 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=565766 Biden Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Into Law, Reflecting Evolving Attitudes Towards Marriage Equality

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus) On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, President Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that codifies same-sex and interracial marriages. Called the Respect for Marriage Act, it doesn't guarantee the right to marry, but it does mandate that all states must […]

READ: Biden Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Into Law, Reflecting Evolving Attitudes Towards Marriage Equality

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Biden Signs ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ Into Law, Reflecting Evolving Attitudes Towards Marriage Equality

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by President Joe Biden (@potus)

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, President Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that codifies same-sex and interracial marriages. Called the Respect for Marriage Act, it doesn't guarantee the right to marry, but it does mandate that all states must recognize that same-sex couples and interracial marriages have the same federal benefits that any married couple is afforded. Support for Respect for Marriage came from across the aisle. Although far from a majority of Republicans supported the bill, 12 senators and 39 representatives voted in favor of Respect for Marriage.

The law, which was given new urgency to pass after the fall of Roe v. Wade, represents a significant shift in attitudes toward same-sex marriage over the past nearly three decades. Gallup, a polling firm, began asking Americans about same-sex marriage in 1996. Back then, just 27% of the public supported legalization. Ten years later, it was at 42%, and it’d take until 2011 to crack the majority of support. In 2015, right before the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, 60% of the public was for legalization. As of May 2022, 71% of people surveyed were in favor.

President Biden is part of that evolution. In the 1990s, he voted for things that hurt gay rights, including the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which specifically blocked the federal recognition of same-sex marriages. By signing the Respect for Marriage Act, he repealed DOMA.

Protecting interracial marriage is part of the new law, and it too has seen a massive uptick in support since the middle of the 20th century. In 1958, Gallup polled Americans asking if they approved of unions between Black and white people, and just 4% of the population said they were in favor of it. This increased to about 50% at the end of the century but exponentially grew in the 2000s. As of 2021, 94% of the public supported interracial marriage.

This is a historic moment for the United States, with sights on a brighter future that protects all consenting adults.

On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, President Biden signed into law a bipartisan bill that codifies same-sex and interracial marriages. It demonstrates a shift in attitudes about marriage equality.

 

Poll indicating how support for same-sex marriage has changed:

Respect for Marriage Act

Photo: Gallup

 

Poll indicating how support for interracial marriage has changed:

Respect for Marriage Act

Photo: Gallup

h/t: [NPR]

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One-Eared Painting Dog Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted https://mymodernmet.com/van-gogh-dog-painter/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 18:30:18 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=561988 One-Eared Painting Dog Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted

Life was not kind to a sweet Boxer-Pit Bull mix who was found bloodied and cowering in a drainage pipe. Dog fighting had cruelly ripped off most of his left ear. In 2019, the 4-year-old arrived at a rescue in North Carolina and received the care he needed, including surgically removing what was left of […]

READ: One-Eared Painting Dog Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted

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One-Eared Painting Dog Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted

Life was not kind to a sweet Boxer-Pit Bull mix who was found bloodied and cowering in a drainage pipe. Dog fighting had cruelly ripped off most of his left ear. In 2019, the 4-year-old arrived at a rescue in North Carolina and received the care he needed, including surgically removing what was left of his ear. The pup was then named Van Gogh. Christy Langley explains he was named after the famous painter “not because he is an artist, but because he is a work of art.” What Langley couldn’t predict was that Van Gogh would actually go on to be a successful artist.

It’s hard not to fall in love with the adorable brindle dog with his soft brown eyes and kind smile. A Facebook post from May 2022, though, detailed that through no fault of his own, Van Gogh was back at that same shelter, waiting to be adopted. Now a senior dog at 7 years old, Langley describes him as “well-mannered” and “chunky” with a “heart-melting smile.” She urged people, “Please come meet this special boy and reciprocate the limitless love he has to offer.” Jaclyn Gartner took it a step further.

Gartner owns the Happily Furever After Shelter in Connecticut, a shelter that helps dogs in shelters that are at risk of being put down. She saw Van Gogh and immediately knew she needed to help. “He’d had an absolutely horrific life, and yet he looked happy, and I was told he got along well with people,” Gartner states. “Van Gogh was resilient, even after all he’d been through…I had to rescue him.”

So, through the help of Pilots N Paws, Van Gogh got on a private flight from North Carolina to Connecticut in June 2022. Gartner got to work telling everyone about the friendly and adorable Van Gogh on Facebook, Petfinder, and Rescue Me, but no one responded. While he was staying with several foster families, “Not a single application came in,” Gartner lamented. “I couldn’t believe it. He was the cutest dog ever.”

After months of searching for a new owner, Gartner had an ingenious idea. Why not take Van Gogh’s name literally? “I’d seen TikTok videos of other dogs creating paintings, so why not Van Gogh?” Gartner explained. “He certainly had the name and the ear for it.” Gartner got to work, putting globs of paint on a canvas, wrapping it in a plastic bag, and coating it with peanut butter as a tasty treat for the pup. It only took five minutes for Van Gogh to lick the plastic-coated canvas clean and for a work of art to be created.

“He has a fast and creative tongue,” Gartner raved. “It takes more time for us to get the canvas ready for him than it does for Van Gogh to lick off the peanut butter and smear the paint around.” They worked on paintings for about a week and then, Gartner invited people to an outdoor art gallery event on October 23, 2022. “I had sparkling cider and pastries and I even set up little stands for the paintings.” Sadly, only two people showed up.

The next day, Gartner says, “I put out a post on Facebook that I felt bad only two people showed up, and I said the rest of the art was still available.” Suddenly, Van Gogh’s pieces were hot items. After two minutes, the paintings were sold out and Gartner raised around $1,000 for her rescue. In November, after the painter pup completed more works of art, Gartner held a silent auction that was a rousing success. A dozen paintings were sold, raising $2,000 more for the shelter. Almost everyone that purchased a Van Gogh painting paid more than the asking price. The biggest success of all, though, was that on the last day of the silent auction, Van Gogh was finally adopted.

Jessica Starowitz, a foster volunteer at the shelter, was looking after Van Gogh and said, “As soon as I saw him, I knew he’d be a foster fail.” She describes, “He was romping around and licking everyone and playing tug of war. My whole family fell in love with him.” The adoption was finalized in November 2022 and around the same time, an Instagram page for the famous pup was created.

Because of Van Gogh’s story and talent, Gartner’s small shelter gained a lot of attention online. Other dogs searching for homes were also able to find their Furever After. “I never in a million years thought I’d see a dog become popular for his paintings,” Gartner said. “It’s really changed my life and his.”

Starowitz plans on keeping prepared canvases—and lots of peanut butter—available for the canine artist whenever inspiration strikes. “Whenever he sees a Ziploc bag and a jar of peanut butter, he knows it’s time to paint,” says Starowitz. “But right now, he’s sleeping on a big cushion bed in my office.”

Life was not kind to a sweet, one-eared Boxer-Pit Bull mix named Van Gogh, who was a helpless victim of dog fighting.

Jaclyn Gartner owns the Happily Furever After Shelter in Connecticut, and helps dogs in other shelters who are at risk of being put down. When she saw Van Gogh’s sweet face, she knew she had to help the senior dog.

Through the help of Pilots N Paws, the pup was flown out to Connecticut. Gartner got to work getting the word out about Van Gogh through Facebook, Petfinder, and Rescue Me, but no one responded.

“Not a single application came in,” Gartner deplored. “I couldn’t believe it. He was the cutest dog ever.”

After looking at the adorable, one-eared pooch, Gartner had an ingenious idea. Why not take Van Gogh’s name literally?

Gartner got to work, putting globs of paint on a canvas, wrapping it in a plastic bag, and coating it with peanut butter as a tasty treat for the pup.

It only took five minutes for Van Gogh to lick the plastic-coated canvas clean and for a work of art to be created.

After creating a few more pieces with the artist pup, Gartner invited people for an outdoor gallery event. Sadly, only two people showed up.

After posting online about the low turnout, Van Gogh’s pieces were hot items. After two minutes, the paintings were sold out and Gartner raised around $1,000 for her rescue.

The duo created more works of art, and in November, a silent auction was held.


A dozen paintings were sold, raising $2,000 more for the shelter. Almost everyone that purchased a Van Gogh painting paid more than the asking price.

The biggest success of all, though, was that on the last day of the silent auction, Van Gogh was finally adopted.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Van Gogh (@officialvgdog)

Jessica Starowitz, a foster volunteer at the shelter, was looking after Van Gogh and said, “As soon as I saw him, I knew he’d be a foster fail.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Van Gogh (@officialvgdog)

Because of Van Gogh’s story and talent, Gartner’s small shelter gained a lot of attention online. Other dogs searching for homes were also able to find their Furever After.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Van Gogh (@officialvgdog)

Starowitz plans on keeping prepared canvases—and lots of peanut butter—available for the canine artist whenever inspiration strikes.

“Whenever he sees a Ziploc bag and a jar of peanut butter, he knows it’s time to paint,” says Starowitz. “But right now, he’s sleeping on a big cushion bed in my office.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Van Gogh (@officialvgdog)

Van Gogh the one-eared dog: Instagram
Happily Furever After Rescue: Facebook | Website
h/t: [Washington Post]

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READ: One-Eared Painting Dog Named Van Gogh Gets Adopted

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Best Friends Win the Lottery, Decide to Spread the Wealth to Their Community https://mymodernmet.com/lottery-winners-give-back-to-community/ Wed, 14 Dec 2022 17:35:34 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=563741 Best Friends Win the Lottery, Decide to Spread the Wealth to Their Community

JoAnn MacQueen went to the grocery store to buy some raspberries and ended up leaving with $1 million. And what did her and her friend Marlisa Mercer decide to do before they even got their hands on the money? They made a pact to give it back to their community. MacQueen and Mercer, friends for […]

READ: Best Friends Win the Lottery, Decide to Spread the Wealth to Their Community

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Best Friends Win the Lottery, Decide to Spread the Wealth to Their Community JoAnn MacQueen and Merlisa Mercer, lottery winners, donating to Comfie Cat Shelter

JoAnn MacQueen went to the grocery store to buy some raspberries and ended up leaving with $1 million. And what did her and her friend Marlisa Mercer decide to do before they even got their hands on the money? They made a pact to give it back to their community.

MacQueen and Mercer, friends for over 35 years now, play the lottery when the prize is big. When MacQueen decided on a whim to check their ticket at the store, she was absolutely shocked. “I saw the Big Winner screen but didn't think we actually won,” MacQueen explained. “When the clerk told me OLG was calling, I said, ‘But I have raspberries,’” she laughed. “I was so shaken I brought the grocery cart out to my car for two packs of raspberries. Then I called Marlisa.” When she heard the news, Mercer said, “I told [MacQueen] to go home and lock the door now!”

When the two won the money back in August 2022, they had already decided they would be using it to give back to their Orillia, Ontario community. The pair wanted to honor MacQueen’s brother, who had recently passed away due to alcoholism, so they donated to places he might have accessed in his lifetime. These organizations include Orilla Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, Lighthouse, the Salvation Army, the Orillia SPCA, the Farley Foundation, the Royal Canadian Legion poppy campaign in Orillia, and the Mariposa House Hospice. These organizations work to help the community’s veterans, animals, and lower-income citizens.

Executive director of The Sharing Place Food Centre, Chris Peacock, is very grateful for the $10,000 donation. With inflation rising and the holiday season in full swing, their early November charity was very welcome. “These are the types of donations that really elevate an organization,” he said. “It's a big deal.”

The pair donated another $10,000 to the Comfie Cat Shelter. “I like that they are a no-kill shelter,” MacQueen stated. “I think that they get overlooked because they are independent and don’t have a lot of backing.” The shelter was also relieved with the two’s donation, which is the one of the top five biggest donations they have received. “We were really low on funds,” shelter and manager, Barb MacLeod, said. “We’ve been having a rough few weeks with people surrendering cats to us that were not healthy. This takes a big load off us.”

“They are completely focused on how can they help to make this community a better place through this win,” Peacock said. “Not many people win a million bucks and have the core goal of spending it on others and improving this community.”

After helping their community out, the two will divide the rest of their winnings to family and friends. Mercer also plans on using some of her earnings for home renovations. She says, “I will treat myself to some hardwood floors and landscaping.” MacQueen simply states, “It makes us feel great that we are able to do this.”

When JoAnn MacQueen and Marlisa Mercer won $1 million, they had already decided what they were going to do before they even got their hands on the money: give it back to their community.

They donated thousands of dollars to many local organizations that work with the community's veterans, animals, and lower-income citizens.

MacQueen simply states, “It makes us feel great that we are able to do this.”

h/t: [Good News Network]

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Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War

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Amazon Will Tip Your Delivery Driver $5 If You Tell Alexa “Thank You” https://mymodernmet.com/amazon-delivery-driver-tips-alexa/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 21:15:39 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=564674 Amazon Will Tip Your Delivery Driver $5 If You Tell Alexa “Thank You”

Nowadays, holiday shopping isn't confined to a trip to the mall; there's also a lot of money being spent online. Due to this, delivery drivers are often overworked during the winter season from an influx of orders. If you choose to shop from Amazon, however, you will now have the ability to thank your delivery […]

READ: Amazon Will Tip Your Delivery Driver $5 If You Tell Alexa “Thank You”

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Amazon Will Tip Your Delivery Driver $5 If You Tell Alexa “Thank You”
Amazon Will Tip Delivery Drivers $5

Photo: info.cineberg.com/DepositPhotos
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Nowadays, holiday shopping isn't confined to a trip to the mall; there's also a lot of money being spent online. Due to this, delivery drivers are often overworked during the winter season from an influx of orders. If you choose to shop from Amazon, however, you will now have the ability to thank your delivery driver. If you say, “Alexa, thank my driver,” Amazon will give that driver a $5 tip on your behalf.

This promotion celebrates Amazon's upcoming milestone of 15 billion packages delivered. Beginning December 7, the first one million drivers to receive thanks from customers will be gifted $5. In addition, Amazon will reward the five drivers who obtain the most tips with a $10,000 bonus, and another $10,000 donation to the charity of their choosing.

“For drivers, it’s more than just the packages that they deliver—they form relationships with customers, provide support to the community in tough moments, and sometimes play the role of the unexpected hero,” says Beryl Tomay, vice president of Last Mile Delivery at Amazon. Customers can send tips through any Alexa-enabled device, including Echo and Echo Show, or with the Alexa or Amazon Shopping mobile apps available on mobile devices.

Amazon has announced that they will tip their delivery drivers $5 if customers tell Alexa, “Alexa, thank my driver.”

h/t: [TechCrunch]

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Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War https://mymodernmet.com/mila-kunis-37-million-ukraine/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 17:35:43 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=562043 Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War

The war in Ukraine has ravaged the country for over 250 days now, creating one of the largest refugee crises in modern history. According to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ refugee chief, 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes, a fact made more worrisome given that a lot of them are about to […]

READ: Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War

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Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War
Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War

Photo: everett225/Depositphotos

The war in Ukraine has ravaged the country for over 250 days now, creating one of the largest refugee crises in modern history. According to Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ refugee chief, 14 million Ukrainians have been displaced from their homes, a fact made more worrisome given that a lot of them are about to face a harsh winter in extremely difficult circumstances. While people around the world have sprung into action to help, few people have been as involved in the cause as Ukrainian-born American actress Mila Kunis. That's why she has been named one of People’s 2022 People of the Year. The magazine honors her in its latest issue and  reveals that she and husband Ashton Kutcher have raised $37 million towards refugee relief efforts.

In the early days of the war, Kunis and Kutcher launched a high-profile fundraiser on GoFundMe, titled Stand With Ukraine, and and pledged to match up to $3 million in donations. The campaign eventually surpassed its goal of $30 million and was even praised by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was so moved by the support that he personally thanked Kunis and Kutcher for using their platform to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. “Ukrainians are proud and brave people who deserve our help in their time of need,” she wrote in the GoFundMe campaign.

The Ukraine war is a cause near and dear to Kunis' heart, who fled the European country at age 7 in 1991. Her family, which includes Holocaust survivors, grew increasingly concerned about anti-semitism, oppression, and lack of opportunities, so they packed up their things and moved to LA after she and her family got visas as religious refugees.

Looking back at her recent efforts, Kunis recalls that she didn't have time to overthink things. “Because I'm from Ukraine, I started getting calls from people who [wanted to help and] thought I knew the politics or had an understanding of NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] on the ground,” she told People. “That was my realization: If they don't know who to go to, how will anybody? There were problems we knew we could help solve. So Ashton and I said, ‘Okay, let's do this.' Within 24 hours, we had GoFundMe on board.”

Kunis also talks about how she has never been more proud to be from Ukraine, and how the mission continues for her. “We can't become desensitized,” Kunis says. “Helping—not even asking, just doing—should be our standard norm.”

Since the beginning of the war, actress Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher have raised $37 million for refugee relief.

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por Ashton Kutcher (@aplusk)

“We can't become desensitized,” Kunis says. “Helping—not even asking, just doing—should be our standard norm.”

 

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

 

Una publicación compartida por People Magazine (@people)

Stand With Ukraine: GoFundMe
h/t: [People]

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READ: Actress Mila Kunis Has Raised $37 Million for Ukraine Since the Beginning of the War

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Two Guys Free a Sea Turtle From a Fishing Net https://mymodernmet.com/two-guys-save-sea-turtle/ Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:45:35 +0000 https://mymodernmet.com/?p=562019 Two Guys Free a Sea Turtle From a Fishing Net

It's no secret that plastic and trash are littering our planet's waters. However, if you don't live by the sea, you may not always see the consequences of these ongoing issues. Australian adventurer Nick Fry recently shared a video where he and some of his friends helped free a sea turtle from a twisted crab pot […]

READ: Two Guys Free a Sea Turtle From a Fishing Net

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Two Guys Free a Sea Turtle From a Fishing Net Two Guys Save a Sea Turtle

It's no secret that plastic and trash are littering our planet's waters. However, if you don't live by the sea, you may not always see the consequences of these ongoing issues. Australian adventurer Nick Fry recently shared a video where he and some of his friends helped free a sea turtle from a twisted crab pot net that had twisted around one of its fins.

The 22-year-old was sailing on a boat with a couple of other people when they spotted the turtle struggling to swim in the water. Fry immediately jumped in to assess the situation, accompanied by one of his friends. They quickly determined that the turtle was unable to continue on its journey because of a net that had gotten stuck around its fin. It also seems as though the net was filled with trash accumulated in the ocean.

While Fry kept the turtle still in his arms, the other man carefully unwrapped the net from around the turtle's fin. In time, they were able to completely free the animal from the plastic and let it continue on its journey, once again swimming as normal. Fry and his friends dutifully brought back the dangerous net and disposed of it in the trash, reminding people to be conscientious and pick up their litter for the sake of the wildlife.

You can follow Fry on Instagram and TikTok to see more of his adventures.

Australian adventurer Nick Fry came across a sea turtle that was trapped in a crab pot net and quickly freed it with the help of his friends.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by NICK FRY | SHOREHAWK (@_nickfry)

Nick Fry: TikTok | Instagram  | YouTube
h/t: [Reddit]

All images via Nick Fry.

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