Swandeh Terhide

Carol Suchman has made a remarkable leap to the top of Santa’s “Nice” list. Each Christmas, the New York City resident generously donates toys to homeless children, but this time, her efforts have garnered significant attention after she purchased an entire toy store. While strolling through her West Village neighborhood, Suchman noticed a “Going Out of Business” sign in the window of a local toy store. Inspired by this opportunity, she decided to take her charitable efforts to a new level. After negotiating with the store owner, she successfully bought the entire inventory, which included thousands of toys, stuffed animals, and school supplies. Suchman then donated all these items to the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS). Antonio Rodriguez, the director of special events at DHS, expressed his gratitude, noting that while many generous sponsors contribute each year, this was the first time someone had purchased an entire store for donation. He emphasized the uniqueness and impact of Suchman’s contribution. Having previously owned a successful technology company with her husband, Suchman has long been focused on helping children in need. She stated, “I know everyone could use a gift around the holidays,” reflecting her commitment to spreading joy during this festive season. Thanks to her extraordinary act of kindness, many homeless children will have presents to open this Christmas

Over 650 low-income students at Pepperhill Elementary School in North Charleston, South Carolina, received brand-new bicycles, helmets, and locks thanks to the dedication of first-grade teacher Katie Blomquist. Recognizing that many of her students had never experienced the joy of owning a bike, Blomquist initiated a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $65,000. Her vision was to enhance the children’s quality of life by providing them with the freedom to explore their neighborhoods on two wheels. The campaign quickly gained momentum, garnering widespread support that exceeded expectations. In just a few months, Blomquist raised over $80,000, with contributions coming from more than 1,000 donors across the country and even internationally. Local bike shop Affordabike collaborated with her to design custom bikes featuring the slogan “Let’s Go Places!” This initiative not only provided tangible gifts but also fostered a sense of community and shared purpose among supporters. On the day of the bike reveal, Blomquist emphasized that this gift was not just from her but from the entire community and beyond. She encouraged the children to remember the kindness they received and to pay it forward in the future. Blomquist’s efforts exemplify how investing in children’s happiness can cultivate virtues like kindness and empathy, ensuring a brighter future for all involved.

What started out as a normal Uber driving shift for Keith Avila turned into an incredible rescue of a 16-year-old girl from a child sex trafficking ring. Keith was working on Monday night in Sacramento, California when he picked up two women and a young girl. While driving them to a Holiday Inn, he started hearing the adults openly instruct the teen on how to interact with “John” at the hotel. Their instructions reportedly included telling her to “pat him down for weapons while hugging him” and “get the donation from him” before anything happened. Keith, being the smart man that he is, dropped the women off, drove around the corner, and called the cops. Police officers arrived at the scene in minutes, arresting the two pimps – Destiny Pettway and Maria Westley – and the man that they were meeting. The teen was apparently a runaway who was then rescued and taken into temporary housing while law enforcement located her family. “The worst thing I thought would happen when driving Uber is that I would be getting drunk passengers and I would have to handle them,” Avila told NBC Latino. “All my life, I thought about people throwing up in the car as the worst scenario.” A member of the Uber Safety Team called to thank and congratulate Avila later that week, but he said there was no way he could have done nothing – he was just doing the right thing.

In a dramatic display of heroism, a group of good Samaritans sprang into action to rescue an unconscious police officer after his patrol car plunged 30 feet down an embankment into a creek in Dallas, Texas. The officer, whose identity has not been disclosed, was en route to respond to a burglary call when another vehicle sideswiped him, causing his cruiser to veer off the road. Witnesses reported that the driver of the car responsible for the collision fled the scene immediately after the accident, leaving the officer trapped in his vehicle. Despite the chaos, over a dozen bystanders rushed to the scene, demonstrating remarkable courage and quick thinking. They worked together to reach the officer, who was found unconscious with several gashes across his forehead. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, and the officer was transported to a nearby hospital, where he is currently reported to be in stable condition. The quick actions of the bystanders did save the officer’s life and also beams a light on the community’s willingness to help those in need during critical moments. As we go about our daily businesses, may we be reminded that we’re humans first before any socio-economic, political, racial and religious divides. Let’s be inspired to act kindly in all situations.

Nikita Shukla, a 21-year-old third-year law student at Government Law College in Mumbai, India, had already faced countless challenges when she visited the Radio City 91.1 station last month to claim her prize for winning a radio contest. Little did she know that this spontaneous visit would ultimately change her life. Nikita, who is completely blind, had been abandoned by her parents when she refused to get married after high school and instead insisted on pursuing higher education. With the support of her friends, she managed to stay in Mumbai and continue her studies, relying on small scholarships and donations from compassionate professors. However, Nikita’s financial situation was dire. She could only afford the free meals provided by her hostel, limiting her to around 20 meals per month. Despite these hardships, she consistently scored over 80% on her exams. When Nikita shared her story with radio jockey Sucharita Tyagi during their conversation, Tyagi was deeply moved and decided to share Nikita’s inspiring tale with her 10,000 Twitter followers. The response was overwhelming, as hundreds of listeners called and emailed, eager to contribute to Nikita’s cause. The outpouring of support resulted in thousands of dollars in donations, enough to cover Nikita’s tuition, hostel fees, and provide her with three meals a day. When presented with the funds, Nikita was overcome with emotion, unable to believe that people were willing to give so generously to support her dream of becoming a lawyer. Nikita’s story is a litmus indicator to the power of perseverance, resilience, and the kindness of strangers. Her journey from hardship to hope serves as an inspiration to all who face adversity in pursuit of their goals. It may be truly cold out there, but I tell you for a fact, if there’s a man who is resilient, there’s a kind soul ready to show kindness. Keep aspiring for greatness, keep spreading kindness.