We all have the ability to face difficulties with spirit and courage.
Even in the face of fear, we can find hope and strength to go on.
Sometimes, a tiny spark of kindness is all it takes to ignite the fire of resilience, courage, and unwavering faith.
Let these inspiring stories help you to rediscover your inner strength and embrace the gift of perseverance!
- Woman on a mission to raise money for people needing service dogs
- Teenager leads a community recycling program
- Toddler and crow share an adorable bond
- Football mentoring program enhances the well-being of at-risk children
Weekly Uplifting Stories – April 29 2024
Woman dedicates herself to raising funds to acquire trained service dogs for individuals in need
Not all superheroes wear capes, some wear collars!
Katie Harris’ life took a drastic turn after she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos, a syndrome which causes constant joint dislocations, and extreme pain. Her health struggles took a toll on her and she was on the verge of giving up.
And that’s when, Moxie, a Goldendoodle, helped her find her purpose in life.
Moxie’s unconditional love and care transformed Katie’s perspective. She created the nonprofit Moxie’s Mission to raise funds for the training and placement of service dogs.
Katie and Moxie are continually spreading awareness about the importance of service dogs in the lives of people with disabilities.
“She’s just an inspiring person and someone who just shows the resilience that humans can have,” said Tori Woods, a Moxie’s Mission recipient.
15-year-old boy is making an ongoing impact on his community, one returnable bottle at a time
15-year-old Mateo Lange from Indian River, Michigan leads a recycling program to raise funds for youth-oriented programs in his community.
He launched the program in 2020 to support his baseball team, the Northern Michigan Cyclones.
The two-week recycling drive was a massive success. Mateo continued his efforts to collect recycled cans and bottles, returning them to beverage distributors and distributing the proceeds of the reimbursement to youth-oriented programs.
His project has since grown into a community-wide campaign.
Till now, he has raised $350,000 and helped at least 50 local youth groups! His campaign has also prevented more than 2 million bottles and cans from polluting the local rivers and lakes.
“It feels humbling I am happy knowing that all these teams and clubs and kids around the community are benefitting,” Mateo says.
Toddler forms an unexpected friendship with a crow
A wild Eurasian crow is an honorary member of this Danish family.
Laerke Luna and her partner took in the frail crow, nursed him, and helped him get healthy.
The rescue crow Russell then formed a special bond with the couple’s two-year-old son Otto.
He always comes back and eagerly waits for Otto to return from school. Russell only allows Otto to pet him, never wanting to leave his side.
“I think a lot of people have an unnecessary fear of the nature and the wildlife. Treat them with respect instead, ” said Laerke.
Otto’s adorable connection with Russell shows us that true friendship has no boundaries!
This football mentoring program is reducing school exclusions and improving academic outcomes
Football Beyond Borders (FBB) is a charity organization based in the UK that sends mentors to schools to act as trusted adults for children who have behavioral issues.
Many of these children do not have a trusted adult to support them. As a result, they become disengaged at school, which increases the risk of exclusion.
FBB’s football mentoring program teaches children the life skills they need to successfully transition to adulthood.
The mentors use football games to teach children how to cope with negative emotions, fulfill their potential, and build better relationships.
A study involving more than 2,000 students in dozens of secondary schools in Greater Manchester quantified the well-being benefits of this program. It showed that the program has given a monetary value to society of £5.5m!
“If it wasn’t football, it could be music. We just need more focus on relationships and proper, trusted, consistent reliable role models. At the moment the school system doesn’t allow teachers the time and space to do that,” said James Reeves, senior policy lead at FBB.
Have a Great Week Everyone!
And there you have it!
Don’t forget – we are always looking for more Uplifting Stories! If you have a tale to tell, or want to submit one for a future article, connect with us in the comments below, or through our Instagram page. We’d love to hear from you.
Have a great week everyone!
Photo by Kampus Production
