By: Priya MigneaultIn April, the VING project gave out $250,000 dollars to teenagers wanting to do good for someone in their community. The VING project, which started in 2014, is a youth centred foundation dedicated to helping amplify and support youth who are going above and beyond to do good. Every month the project gets video submissions from American teens, 14 to 18, asking for $1,000 dollars to support someone in their community. The money is sent to the lucky teens in a check that they deliver to their nominee. The founder, Liz Lefkofsky, said she launched the VING project in order to allow teens to experience their own special philanthropic impact. Pastor Bill Losasso spent his 73rd birthday in an ice cream truck handing out free treats. Pastor Bill runs a centre in Florida that works to help those experiencing homelessness. His organization gives out 25,000 pounds of food every weekend to the community. Over the course of the day he handed out hundreds of treats to everyone who walked by. "Out here they don't get ice cream very often," said Pastor Bill, "We had people tell us it's been a year and a half since they had any ice cream and little kids said that." Kelly Passek, a middle school librarian, has been delivering books to her students through WING's drone deliveries. The students submit an online form to request books and Passek delivers them to WING's office for delivery. The books are then transferred by drone right to the students front yard. "Our libraries are essential and unique parts of our community and it is extremely important for our students to continue to have access to the resources that are here in our libraries in order to guarantee their success," Passek said. What an amazing use of technology and innovation during a time when human contacted is extremely limited! Have an amazing and healthy week everyone, Priya
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By: Priya MigneaultThis past week teenager Antonio Gwynn, 18, spent 10 hours cleaning up his neighbourhood after the protests and riots. Between the hours of 2am to 12am he went out into the streets of Buffalo, USA and cleaned up broken glass, along with other discarded objects so that people could safely make it to work in the morning. But that isn't the only incredible thing about this story, once local businesses and neighbours found out what Gwynn was doing they wanted to give back. He received a red mustang and a full year of car insurance from a local businessman Bob Briceland, along with a full scholarship to the local college. Over the past two months Greg Dailey, 50, has made over 500 grocery runs for seniors in his neighbourhood of East Windsor, New Jersey. Dailey runs a newspaper route in the community and realized that some seniors struggled retrieving the paper from down their driveways, and thought about how hard it must be to go get groceries. He began directly contacting a few of those on his route to offer grocery runs free of charge and put notes in the paper offering his services, from there it took off. Dailey even received responses from people outside his typical route and has since recruited his family to help make the runs. He says he may continue with this even after the pandemic ends to help support the seniors in his community. The company Band-aid is now creating multi coloured bandages in response to the recent Black Lives Matter protests happening around the world. "We hear you. We see you. We're listening to you," Band-Aid wrote on Instagram. The bandages will now come in light, olive, and different shades of brown and black to reflect customer skin tones. Band-Aid is not the first company to create different skin toned bandages. In 2014, Tru-Colour started which offers different colours of bandages to match customers skin tones after the founder realized there were no bandages that matched his adopted sons skin. Let us know your good news in the comments below. Until next week, stay safe everyone. Priya By: Priya MigneaultA 6-year-old went and delivered ice-cream and other frosty treats around her community for her birthday this year. In Tuscany a young girl, her sister, and her parents went around in their car, that was decked out in ribbons and bows, and gave out different cold treats to those in the area and walking by. They even had dairy and nut free desserts, for those with allergies. In a quick conversation with the parents they explained that although their daughter could not have a birthday party this year, they still wanted others to celebrate with them. What an awesome way to celebrate someone's birthday! Happy Birthday to the Ice-cream girl. In graduation style, two teenagers in Calgary decided to motivate their community through inspirational posters and cards, they hung up throughout the streets. Danika, 14, and another teen, who has chosen to remain anonymous, have gone out two times over the past 14 days and put up posters and cards in their prom dresses. This year was Danika's grade 9 graduation, so the two ladies wanted to celebrate while giving back to their community in someway. By putting up posters in their prom dresses they are not only able to brighten their day, but others who pass by them and their signs. New Zealand has lifted all COVID-19 restrictions and has no new or active cases within the country. 2-days-ago Prime Minister Ardern announced that the country will reopen all previously closed businesses and facilities and that social distancing is no longer required. In less that 100 days New Zealand has beaten COVID-19 and are returning to normal, just in time for the summer. Congratulations New Zealand! This country is leading by example and giving the rest of us hope that one day, not to far away, we can all be together again too. Until then stay safe and strong, Priya |
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