Swandeh Terhide

In Reykjavik, Iceland, a local man known as the “bike whisperer,” Bjartmar Leósson, dedicates his efforts to recovering stolen bicycles without resorting to anger or involving law enforcement against the thieves. Instead, the police often reach out to him when someone reports a missing bike. In a nation with only one high-security prison, Leósson exemplifies a focus on rehabilitation over punitive measures. His started this years ago when his own bike was stolen, leading him to believe that many thefts were linked to a nearby homeless shelter. He observed police passing by stolen bikes left in front of the shelter without taking action. Reflecting on his frustration, Leósson stated, “I was very angry, they were angry. But then I started to think: OK, it doesn’t matter, I can scream until I’m blue in the face, nothing’s going to change. So I decided to try to level with them and just talk to them.” This shift in perspective transformed former thieves into partners in a city-wide initiative to combat bike theft. With the help of the unhoused community, they track down stolen bikes and return them to their owners through Leósson’s Facebook group, “Bicycle stuff etc lost, found or stolen,” which boasts over 14,000 members. While Reykjavik does not have the same cycling culture as Amsterdam—where only a small percentage of trips are made by bike—there has been a notable decrease in bike thefts from 569 incidents to 404 over two years. Additionally, a government initiative is underway to develop off-thoroughfare cycling routes. Reykjavik’s police chief, Guðmundur Pétur Guðmundsson, praised Leósson’s efforts: “Bjartmar Leósson is doing a great job finding and collecting bikes that have been stolen. Police often guide victims of theft to various sales groups and his [Facebook] group just to increase the likelihood of finding the bike again.” Leósson has identified addiction as a primary driver behind bike thefts, with some individuals stealing bikes to fund their drug habits. He has also played a role in helping some of these individuals find paths toward recovery.

From California emerges a tale of bravery amidst the devastation of a recent wildfire. According to the American Red Cross, Malibu resident Johnny Constantine initially prioritized his own safety but soon dashed toward the flames threatening his friend’s home, determined to help them escape. As smoke and embers from the Franklin Fire filled the air, a red glow illuminated his friends’ backyard. “I noticed their lights were off, but the doorbell was functional. I kept pressing it and shouting from their gate to wake them up,” Constantine recalled. “The fire was alarmingly close—the smoke, the red glow, and the embers made it seem like it would soon engulf their property.” After a nerve-wracking 15-20 minutes of honking, shouting, and ringing the doorbell, his friends finally awakened and managed to flee just as the fire approached their residence. “I stayed until they were safe,” Constantine stated. Fortunately, a combination of rain, cooler temperatures, and calm winds helped slow the Franklin Fire’s advance across the Malibu hills. Shortly after Constantine’s successful evacuation, containment efforts had brought the fire to approximately 30% control. By mid-December, state officials reported minimal fire activity with no significant growth. The latest updates indicated that only 13 structures had been destroyed, in stark contrast to the over 1,200 lost during the Dixie Fire. Following his heroic efforts, Constantine was able to find refuge at an American Red Cross evacuation shelter in Palisades, one of several facilities established by the organization for those fleeing wildfires.

On December 18th,2024, the Fernandina Beach Fire Department responded to a bicycle accident involving a young man who was trapped under his bike. To free him, firefighters had to cut his foot loose from the spokes, which unfortunately damaged the bike. The boy, identified as KJ, was taken to the hospital to treat injuries, including a severe ankle sprain. In the spirit of the holiday season, the firefighters decided to lift KJ’s spirits. They visited him at the hospital and surprised him with a brand-new bike and helmet. The following day, they shared a photo on their Facebook page showing KJ, who appeared to be asleep, receiving his new gift. His mother, Joanna, expressed gratitude in the photo, noting that while KJ was still in shock from the incident, there were no serious injuries. The fire department’s post conveyed a heartfelt message: “This reminds us of what the holidays are truly about. Merry Christmas and happy holidays from our fire family to yours. Stay safe, Fernandina.” When our thoughts are rooted in humanity, every occurrence is an opportunity to lift the spirit of another.

The family of a 9-year-old who was born without a left hand raised the $24,000 needed for a new prosthetic arm, after the cost was denied by their insurance company—but now the girl is paying it forward to another child, after a Good Samaritan stepped in to cover the full cost of hers. Remi Bateman, who outgrew her conventional prosthetic, got the chance to try out a robotic ‘Hero Arm’ made by Open Bionics—and she loved it. But the family in Utah was left devastated when insurer Select Health deemed the prosthetic “not medically necessary”, which was surprising, since they’d approved three prosthetics before in her lifetime. Even after two different appeals, the company said the high-tech device was for “cosmetic use only”, which left Remi in tears. So the family launched a GoFundMe campaign and was able to quickly raise the $24,000 to buy the Hero Arm outright—but then a company called CrowdHealth stepped in to pay for her arm in full. Andy Schoonover, the CEO of the insurance alternative that helps people negotiate lower costs for medical bills, was looking for a way to give back over the holidays. He called the family on Dec. 16 after seeing the story about their fundraiser on social media. He encouraged Remi to use the GoFundMe donations however she wished, and the little girl knew immediately what she wanted to do—she wanted to help another child buy a Hero Arm. The Batemans found the fundraising page for Taj Johnson Jr. from Virginia, also born without a left arm, who was raising money for a bionic limb. She gave the 9-year-old the money so now both kids will get to do what their peers can do, like tying a shoe or hanging on the monkey bars on a playground—thanks to the device controlled via sensors atop their forearm muscles. “I’m so excited to get my Hero Arm, I could jump to the moon,” said Remi, who ordered her multi-grip bionic hand in the color pink. “Being able to help Taj means a lot to me.” Taj’s mom was shocked and ecstatic. “We are just so grateful to Remi and her family,” said Kaitlin Skinner, who had only managed to raise $1,500 on their GoFundMe page. “This is a blessing.” Remi’s mom, Jami, especially enjoyed telling Taj’s family. “They were so surprised and grateful to receive the help. “Remi absolutely needs this device to aid her in two-handed tasks and activities. It is going to support her spinal and shoulder health as she grows too.” We are thrilled that CrowdHealth stepped forward to pay for Remi’s arm, enabling us to use the donations to help another limb-different family in need.” Remi’s quality of life is about to change for the better, as Open Bionics, based in the UK, says they should be ready to fit her pink arm in January. The family, having tasted the sweetness of philanthropy, decided to keep their GoFundMe page open to collect more funds, working towards the goal to help another child named Faith to get a Hero Arm.

On Light Street in Baltimore, a small pizzeria facing closure by Christmas has experienced a remarkable thing—a true Christmas miracle. Little Brick Oven Pizzeria was on the brink of shutting down, with a note attached to each pizza box indicating that without significant business or donations, it would close its doors on December 25th, 2024. The situation changed dramatically, many thanks to Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports, who conducted one of his well-known One Bite pizza reviews. He rated the pizzeria a “solid 7.9,” describing its offerings as a thin New York-style pizza. This review brought attention to Little Brick Oven but resulting in an overwhelming influx of customers, leading to long lines and busy phone lines. Owner Will Fagg, who has been likened to a “guardian angel” by one of his part-time employees, was a longtime admirer of Portnoy’s efforts to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. When Portnoy inquired about the pizzeria’s challenges, he was surprised to learn about the dire financial situation and the costly liquor license that was essential for survival—something that a new market across the street had already secured and put to good use. During his visit, Portnoy insisted on paying for his pizza after hearing about Fagg’s struggles, jokingly stating, “you can’t tell me you’ve got no money and then not ask me to pay for it.” He then asked how much money Fagg would need to keep the business afloat for a year. When Fagg mentioned $60,000 for operational costs and the liquor license, Portnoy simply replied, “Done.” The review quickly went viral, amassing over 14 million views on social media. By Christmas Eve, Little Brick Oven was bustling with customers eager to support the establishment. Fagg expressed his gratitude, stating, “We’ve never had a line like this,” as he prepared pizzas in his red chef’s coat and hat. As Christmas Day approached, donations began pouring in. Fagg reflected on the overwhelming support he received, saying, “It’s an incredible feeling… I really thank everybody so much.”

On Christmas Eve, a young cub reporter was on duty, still inexperienced and unaware that acts of kindness often emerge from the most unexpected places during times of need. The editor, affectionately known as ‘The Boss,’ had made a generous promise to the staff: if they completed their work early, he would put the paper to bed ahead of schedule, granting everyone a few extra hours with their families. Assigned to cover the police beat, the reporter’s main task was to check in at the local police department for any significant incidents that warranted public attention. As he approached the police chief, he was met with a familiar response. “Nope, nothing here,” the chief said with a chuckle, anticipating the reporter’s inquiry. “It’s too cold for the local criminals.” As was customary, the chief handed over the police blotter—a handwritten record of calls received by the department. The reporter scanned the list, noting the usual minor disturbances. However, one entry caught his eye: a husband had reported that his family’s clothes had been stolen from their home in the impoverished North side of town. Recognizing the gravity of this situation, especially on Christmas Eve, the reporter felt compelled to investigate further. The following day, another entry from the same man indicated that all their clothes had been recovered. Sensing a potential story, he asked an officer on duty about it. “Do you know what happened?” he inquired. “Nope,” came the reply. “In that neighborhood, you never know.” Determined to uncover the truth, the reporter hopped into his Volkswagen Beetle and drove directly to the neighborhood. Armed with a notepad and pencil, he knocked on the door of the family’s home. When a woman answered, cradling a baby in her arms while two little boys peeked shyly from behind her skirt, he introduced himself and expressed his interest in writing about their situation. The woman explained that her family had fallen on hard times. Her husband had been ill and lost his job just before Christmas. In preparation for the holiday season, she had washed all their clothes; however, their dryer was broken and her landlord had yet to fix it. Although she could have taken their wet laundry to a laundromat across town, she whispered that it “costs money.” Instead, she hung everything on a clothesline behind their house. When she checked later, she discovered that all their clothes were gone—stolen! This prompted her to call the police for assistance for the first time. A couple of hours later, there was a knock at her door. By the time she reached it, no one was there. Instead, she found a large cardboard box waiting for her at the front step. Inside were all their clothes—dried, pressed, and neatly folded—along with a note that read: “Wish we could do more. Merry Christmas.” This unexpected act of kindness not only restored her family’s clothing but also brought warmth and hope during a challenging time—a reminder that compassion can shine brightly even in difficult circumstances.