This time, the doctor isn’t making the house call. Dr. Elihu Wing Jr. will stay put in Providence.
On Saturday, for the 17th consecutive year, the Community Church of Providence is sending a humanitarian delegation to the Dominican Republic for a week. And, for the first time, Wing — now 89, and being treated for leukemia — isn’t part of the team.
But, as always, he organized it.
“He is an amazing evangelist for the hospital,” says the Rev. Evan Drake Howard, pastor of the Community Church of Providence, on Wayland Avenue.
The Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana, on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern tip, provides medical care to impoverished Haitians working in the sugar-cane industry. Its existence comes from the kindness of strangers, thousands of volunteers from dozens of churches who have contributed money, labor and medical expertise.
Click here to read the rest of the story from The Providence (RI) Journal.
Showing posts with label Encouraging News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Encouraging News. Show all posts
February 28, 2011
February 25, 2011
Encouraging News-Brantford community answers call to help family in need
The community has responded with open hearts to the story of a struggling city man who's trying to raise his son in difficult circumstances.
Wildlife expert Jared Houliston said he's been inundated with calls and emails as people flooded him with offers of assistance for a man named Derrick.
Derrick, whose surname is being withheld to protect his privacy, was injured in a workplace accident two years ago and just recently lost his compensation pension when he turned 65.
He and his son have been living in a house in desperate need of repair.
When Houliston's business networking group -the Brant Business Builders -learned about Derrick's situation, members began offering to help.
"Now everybody's doing their part," said a delighted Houliston.
A quick inspection last weekend of Derrick's home revealed a leaky furnace. Air Serve has already installed a new furnace.
Donations have covered appliances, some furniture and a small amount of money. Other businesses are getting involved, offering structural help. The Personal Computer Museum has donated two computers.
Houliston has collected fresh and canned food donations for the man and son and has an offer from a landscaping company to redo the entire yard in the spring.
Click here to read the rest of the story from The Brantford Expositor in Ontario, Canada.
Wildlife expert Jared Houliston said he's been inundated with calls and emails as people flooded him with offers of assistance for a man named Derrick.
Derrick, whose surname is being withheld to protect his privacy, was injured in a workplace accident two years ago and just recently lost his compensation pension when he turned 65.
He and his son have been living in a house in desperate need of repair.
When Houliston's business networking group -the Brant Business Builders -learned about Derrick's situation, members began offering to help.
"Now everybody's doing their part," said a delighted Houliston.
A quick inspection last weekend of Derrick's home revealed a leaky furnace. Air Serve has already installed a new furnace.
Donations have covered appliances, some furniture and a small amount of money. Other businesses are getting involved, offering structural help. The Personal Computer Museum has donated two computers.
Houliston has collected fresh and canned food donations for the man and son and has an offer from a landscaping company to redo the entire yard in the spring.
Click here to read the rest of the story from The Brantford Expositor in Ontario, Canada.
February 24, 2011
Encouraging News-Community helping farmers after barn collapse
The roof collapse happened Wednesday night around 6:30 at the King Brothers Dairy farm in Northumberland. The recent weather and snowfall is likely to blame.
Thursday, the family was left with a lot of clean up and lost livestock.
Everywhere you looked today pieces of barn and piles of snow covered the ground.
"We had quite a terrible collapse - half of this 120 by 400 foot barn," said Jan King, one of the farm owners.
Inside there were about 250 animals. Seventy-five were injured or killed. It is a devastating blow for the family owned company. But it could have been even worse if it wasn't for a community that stepped in.
King says that he made just two calls last night when this happened, one to his brother who is also the co-owner, the other to his cousin. But within an hour appoximately 200 people had showed up to help.
"It was unbelievable last night, between three fire departments and local neighbors, there were some people here I didn't even know who they were," said King.
Click here to read the rest of the story from Fox 23 in Albany, NY,
Thursday, the family was left with a lot of clean up and lost livestock.
Everywhere you looked today pieces of barn and piles of snow covered the ground.
"We had quite a terrible collapse - half of this 120 by 400 foot barn," said Jan King, one of the farm owners.
Inside there were about 250 animals. Seventy-five were injured or killed. It is a devastating blow for the family owned company. But it could have been even worse if it wasn't for a community that stepped in.
King says that he made just two calls last night when this happened, one to his brother who is also the co-owner, the other to his cousin. But within an hour appoximately 200 people had showed up to help.
"It was unbelievable last night, between three fire departments and local neighbors, there were some people here I didn't even know who they were," said King.
Click here to read the rest of the story from Fox 23 in Albany, NY,
February 23, 2011
Encouraging News-Habitat for Humanity helps to stabalize a neighborhood
When the first two houses on Carpenter Circle are complete, no one will be able to say whether Katrina Smith or Tina Steele was the first to have a house on the new street.
Volunteers raised the first wall of each woman's house simultaneously Saturday, bringing the first-time homebuyers another step closer to becoming next-door neighbors.
Homeownership is a major change in each woman's life, but their homes also may mark a shift on East Athens' Burney Street - a time when families take back the neighborhood from drug peddlers and petty thieves.
"We all will be working, and we all have children. We all have to look out for each other," said Steele, 42, who works as a cook at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Habitat for Humanity planned Carpenter's Circle as a whole neighborhood, hoping the handful of families will stabilize the street as they add to the growing number of homeowners across the North Oconee River from downtown.
"We have targeted a specific area that has a high crime rate and low homeownership. The philosophy is that if you inject a certain number of homeowners, you change the dynamic of the area," said Spencer Frye, the executive director for the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald.
Volunteers raised the first wall of each woman's house simultaneously Saturday, bringing the first-time homebuyers another step closer to becoming next-door neighbors.
Homeownership is a major change in each woman's life, but their homes also may mark a shift on East Athens' Burney Street - a time when families take back the neighborhood from drug peddlers and petty thieves.
"We all will be working, and we all have children. We all have to look out for each other," said Steele, 42, who works as a cook at Athens Regional Medical Center.
Habitat for Humanity planned Carpenter's Circle as a whole neighborhood, hoping the handful of families will stabilize the street as they add to the growing number of homeowners across the North Oconee River from downtown.
"We have targeted a specific area that has a high crime rate and low homeownership. The philosophy is that if you inject a certain number of homeowners, you change the dynamic of the area," said Spencer Frye, the executive director for the Athens Area Habitat for Humanity.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Athens (GA) Banner-Herald.
February 22, 2011
Encouraging News-Rutgers Prep student donates ceramic pots and vases to nursing home
When Steven Polansky first came to Rutgers Preparatory School in Franklin as a freshman, he signed up for ceramics class. Little did he know it would become a passion for him while also brightening the lives of area senior citizens.
Polansky, 17, has made so many pots and vases in the past four years that he did not know what to do with them all. He decided to donate them to the McCarrick Care Center, a nursing home in Somerset. One of Polansky's creations is on every table in the dining room, and every month he changes each of the 17 floral arrangements to coincide with the seasons or holidays. He makes sure to deliver them during lunchtime so he has a chance to talk with the residents there.
"It's something that makes the people happy," he said. "Some of them have no relatives living in the area. Knowing that someone cares enough to do this makes their life brighter."
Click here to read the rest of the story in the Somerville (NJ) Courier News.
Polansky, 17, has made so many pots and vases in the past four years that he did not know what to do with them all. He decided to donate them to the McCarrick Care Center, a nursing home in Somerset. One of Polansky's creations is on every table in the dining room, and every month he changes each of the 17 floral arrangements to coincide with the seasons or holidays. He makes sure to deliver them during lunchtime so he has a chance to talk with the residents there.
"It's something that makes the people happy," he said. "Some of them have no relatives living in the area. Knowing that someone cares enough to do this makes their life brighter."
Click here to read the rest of the story in the Somerville (NJ) Courier News.
February 21, 2011
Encouraging News-Hospital employees help put up roof
The emergency room isn't the only place to help those in need.
Health First employees installed a new roof and made other fixes Friday to a home in the 1700 block of Bluebird Court that will one day house a previously homeless family.
About 30 to 40 people put in new roof flashing and shingles, fixed up the interior and landscaped the backyard.
"It's our nurses, it's our administrative staff," Elliot Cohen, spokesman for the hospital, said of those who participated Friday.
The effort is part of Health First's second annual Community Benefit campaign, called "Caring for Brevard."
About 200 employees from Health First chipped in Friday at several locations, including the house. They made homeless assistance kits for cold weather. They helped rehabilitate the American Red Cross facility on Cedar Avenue in Rockledge.
Click here to read the rest of the story from (Melbourne) Florida Today.
Health First employees installed a new roof and made other fixes Friday to a home in the 1700 block of Bluebird Court that will one day house a previously homeless family.
About 30 to 40 people put in new roof flashing and shingles, fixed up the interior and landscaped the backyard.
"It's our nurses, it's our administrative staff," Elliot Cohen, spokesman for the hospital, said of those who participated Friday.
The effort is part of Health First's second annual Community Benefit campaign, called "Caring for Brevard."
About 200 employees from Health First chipped in Friday at several locations, including the house. They made homeless assistance kits for cold weather. They helped rehabilitate the American Red Cross facility on Cedar Avenue in Rockledge.
Click here to read the rest of the story from (Melbourne) Florida Today.
February 18, 2011
Encouraging News-Bangor group enhances their own lives while helping the community
Many of them carried ribbons for their achievements at the Special Olympics, others were eager to boast about lending a helping hand, and some simply wore a smile because they were happy to be there.
As a result, the atmosphere was vibrant at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen in Bangor on Wednesday morning while a group of special needs volunteers prepared to serve a full-course meal to more than 100 people expected to visit the dining hall, which is operated by The Salvation Army.
The volunteers, a group of local residents with developmental disabilities, were working through the Bangor Community Supports Program run by Downeast Horizons, a social services provider for Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Hancock counties.
The program provides volunteers with the building blocks of social skills, in addition to enhancing their daily lives through productive activities, according to Tony Zambrano, executive director of Downeast Horizons.
“This is a way for people who usually receive services to make a difference and give back to their communities in a meaningful way,” said Zambrano, with nothing short of pride in his voice as he oversaw the group’s work in the kitchen.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Bangor (ME) Daily News.
As a result, the atmosphere was vibrant at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen in Bangor on Wednesday morning while a group of special needs volunteers prepared to serve a full-course meal to more than 100 people expected to visit the dining hall, which is operated by The Salvation Army.
The volunteers, a group of local residents with developmental disabilities, were working through the Bangor Community Supports Program run by Downeast Horizons, a social services provider for Penobscot, Piscataquis, Waldo and Hancock counties.
The program provides volunteers with the building blocks of social skills, in addition to enhancing their daily lives through productive activities, according to Tony Zambrano, executive director of Downeast Horizons.
“This is a way for people who usually receive services to make a difference and give back to their communities in a meaningful way,” said Zambrano, with nothing short of pride in his voice as he oversaw the group’s work in the kitchen.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Bangor (ME) Daily News.
February 17, 2011
Encouraging News-Serving the Needs of Disabled Iraqi Children
Brad Blauser landed in post-9/11 Iraq for selfish reasons: he was nearly bankrupt and accepted a job working as a civilian in an Army supply warehouse. Soon after his arrival however, Brad's plans changed.
"I thought I was going to Iraq to get my life straightened out financially, but fate had a different reason for my purpose in Iraq."
Brad heard stories about parents carrying their disabled children for miles and witnessed young children dragging themselves through the streets, while their most basic medical needs -- crutches, wheelchairs, disability support -- remained unmet.
An Army surgeon told Brad that wheelchairs were the most pressing need for disabled Iraqi kids and Brad immediately set out raising funds for wheelchairs and establishing the nonprofit Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids (WFIK). To date, the organization has outfitted 863 children with wheelchairs, at a cost of $2.5 million.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Huffington Post.
"I thought I was going to Iraq to get my life straightened out financially, but fate had a different reason for my purpose in Iraq."
Brad heard stories about parents carrying their disabled children for miles and witnessed young children dragging themselves through the streets, while their most basic medical needs -- crutches, wheelchairs, disability support -- remained unmet.
An Army surgeon told Brad that wheelchairs were the most pressing need for disabled Iraqi kids and Brad immediately set out raising funds for wheelchairs and establishing the nonprofit Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids (WFIK). To date, the organization has outfitted 863 children with wheelchairs, at a cost of $2.5 million.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Huffington Post.
February 16, 2011
Encouraging News-Isralei Extends Helping Hand to Sick Palestinians
Aya Abu Mouwais, a 3-year-old who lives in the West Bank, can barely walk or talk because of a failing kidney and liver. For much of her life, the Palestinian child has needed dialysis to survive.
Thankfully, an Israeli man has been able to help her get the treatment she so desperately requires.
More than 500 times in the past two years, Yuval Roth and his volunteers have driven Aya and her mother roundtrip from a checkpoint near the West Bank border to Rambam Medical Center, which is an hour away in Haifa, Israel.
"What Yuval has done, no one else has done," said Aya's mother, Suhair. "He is day by day helping us to get her to the hospital. I'm not allowed to drive an Israeli car, so if not for Yuval, we wouldn't be able to transport her. I thank him."
Click here to read the rest of the story from CNN.
Thankfully, an Israeli man has been able to help her get the treatment she so desperately requires.
More than 500 times in the past two years, Yuval Roth and his volunteers have driven Aya and her mother roundtrip from a checkpoint near the West Bank border to Rambam Medical Center, which is an hour away in Haifa, Israel.
"What Yuval has done, no one else has done," said Aya's mother, Suhair. "He is day by day helping us to get her to the hospital. I'm not allowed to drive an Israeli car, so if not for Yuval, we wouldn't be able to transport her. I thank him."
Click here to read the rest of the story from CNN.
February 15, 2011
Encouraging News-"Gridiron Heroes" Helps Disabled Football Players Start Over
After Chris Canales suffered a devastating spinal cord injury during a high school football game, his father Eddie Canales was heartbroken to watch his son go from a promising young athlete to paralyzed and wheelchair-bound, CNN reports.
When the father and son witnessed another high school player suffer the same fate, they knew the pain and hardship he and his family would endure. On top of the emotional trauma, crushing medical bills can destroy a family's financial stability.
They decided to take action.
Eddie and Chris began visiting injured high school football players and their families to offer their support. They founded Gridiron Heroes, an organization to help paralyzed young football players in Texas.
In addition to bringing together handicapped athletes in solidarity, the nonprofit helps families raise money to pay medical bills, afford wheelchairs and ramps.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Huffington Post.
When the father and son witnessed another high school player suffer the same fate, they knew the pain and hardship he and his family would endure. On top of the emotional trauma, crushing medical bills can destroy a family's financial stability.
They decided to take action.
Eddie and Chris began visiting injured high school football players and their families to offer their support. They founded Gridiron Heroes, an organization to help paralyzed young football players in Texas.
In addition to bringing together handicapped athletes in solidarity, the nonprofit helps families raise money to pay medical bills, afford wheelchairs and ramps.
Click here to read the rest of the story from the Huffington Post.
February 14, 2011
Encouraging News-Retired Cop Honored For Decade as Teacher's Aide
Many retirees dream of spending their days traveling, sipping cocktails or hitting the putting green. Going back to your old elementary school to spend eight hours a day on the subjects you most dreaded as a kid doesn't usually top the list.
But John Weidinger's golden years have gained their luster in the classrooms at Cleveland Elementary, the school in San Francisco's Excelsior district he attended as a boy. Back then, he hated math and science - but the 69-year-old retired cop has spent all day, every school day for the past 10 years volunteering to tutor kids in the subjects.
"Many of the people I arrested had little or no education, and I vowed to do something about that when I retired," explained the soft-spoken, bookish Daly City resident. "Arresting people is different than trying to change their attitudes."
Click here to read the rest of the story from the San Francisco Chronicle.
But John Weidinger's golden years have gained their luster in the classrooms at Cleveland Elementary, the school in San Francisco's Excelsior district he attended as a boy. Back then, he hated math and science - but the 69-year-old retired cop has spent all day, every school day for the past 10 years volunteering to tutor kids in the subjects.
"Many of the people I arrested had little or no education, and I vowed to do something about that when I retired," explained the soft-spoken, bookish Daly City resident. "Arresting people is different than trying to change their attitudes."
Click here to read the rest of the story from the San Francisco Chronicle.
February 12, 2011
Encouraging News-Mother Meets Recipient of Son's Donated Heart
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February 11, 2011
Encouraging News-Relentless Snow Bringing Out the Best in Easterners
Between storms, a builder in Connecticut uses his skid loader to plow his neighbors' driveways. In Maryland, a good Samaritan hands out water and M&Ms to stranded drivers. The mayor of Philadelphia urges residents to "be kind" and help one another out — and they respond by doing just that.
Across the Northeast, full of large cities where people wear their brusqueness like a badge of honor, neighbors and even strangers are banding together to beat back what's shaping up to be one of the most brutal winters in years — and it appears to be contagious.
"It seems to have started a whole grass-roots movement of people helping one another," said Cindy Twiss, a school administrator who lives in Milford.
She's among the lucky neighbors of Danny Blanchet, the builder who uses his 7,500-pound yellow "skid steer" to plow Twiss and others out in mere minutes for jobs that would take their shovels hours to complete.
"Last storm I did 35 people," Blanchet said, beaming and decked out in sunglasses and a sweater knitted by his sister. "I just happen to have a bigger shovel than they do. This is a joy for me."
Across the Northeast, full of large cities where people wear their brusqueness like a badge of honor, neighbors and even strangers are banding together to beat back what's shaping up to be one of the most brutal winters in years — and it appears to be contagious.
"It seems to have started a whole grass-roots movement of people helping one another," said Cindy Twiss, a school administrator who lives in Milford.
She's among the lucky neighbors of Danny Blanchet, the builder who uses his 7,500-pound yellow "skid steer" to plow Twiss and others out in mere minutes for jobs that would take their shovels hours to complete.
"Last storm I did 35 people," Blanchet said, beaming and decked out in sunglasses and a sweater knitted by his sister. "I just happen to have a bigger shovel than they do. This is a joy for me."
February 10, 2011
Encouraging News-Panera Bread's Non-profit Restaurants
Panera Bread will open a nonprofit restaurant Monday in Portland where customers can pay what they wish for food.
It's the third "Panera Cares" community cafe for the company and its first West Coast location.
Panera (PNRA) opened community cafes last year in Clayton, Mo., and Dearborn, Mich. The restaurants are owned and operated by a nonprofit arm of the national restaurant chain, which receives no profit from the business.
"In some ways it is a test for humanity," said Ron Shaich, founder of Panera who launched the concept for the company. "Will people step up and help each other or will they take advantage?"
So far, people have stepped up. Panera said about 20% of the visitors to the cafes leave more than the suggested amount, 20% leave less and 60% pay what is suggested.
Those who are not able to pay anything do not have to, but the cafe suggests they volunteer their time in support of the organization.
"This is not about a handout," Shaich said. "This is about a hand up, and every one of us has a need for that at some point in our lives."
Click here to read the rest of the story from USA Today.
It's the third "Panera Cares" community cafe for the company and its first West Coast location.
Panera (PNRA) opened community cafes last year in Clayton, Mo., and Dearborn, Mich. The restaurants are owned and operated by a nonprofit arm of the national restaurant chain, which receives no profit from the business.
"In some ways it is a test for humanity," said Ron Shaich, founder of Panera who launched the concept for the company. "Will people step up and help each other or will they take advantage?"
So far, people have stepped up. Panera said about 20% of the visitors to the cafes leave more than the suggested amount, 20% leave less and 60% pay what is suggested.
Those who are not able to pay anything do not have to, but the cafe suggests they volunteer their time in support of the organization.
"This is not about a handout," Shaich said. "This is about a hand up, and every one of us has a need for that at some point in our lives."
Click here to read the rest of the story from USA Today.
February 9, 2011
Encouraging News-Autistic Photographer Speaks Through Photos
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February 8, 2011
February 7, 2011
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