11 Good News Stories: Boy, 8, Praised By Obama Is At It Again

ACROSS AMERICA — Here’s the thing about people who do good things for people they don’t know:

They’re often the last people to ask for help.

That’s the case with Michael Roy, an East Haven, Connecticut, man who helped his entire town in the early days of the coronavirus lockdown by holding food and fundraising drives to help his neighbors and front-line workers.

Roy, a veteran living with post-traumatic stress disorder, found himself on the other side of the equation. He needed help to pay for surgery for his therapy dog, Stella. His neighbors came through for him. By Ellyn Santiago for East Haven, Connecticut, Patch

He’s At It Again

You may remember reading about Zohaib Begg, the Ashburn, Virginia, 8-year-old who got a shoutout from former President Barack Obama after Patch published a story about his work to provide personal protection equipment to Washington, D.C., area front-line medical workers on Global Youth Service Day. Now he’s putting together personal care kits that several service organizations will distribute to homeless and needy families. By Mark Hand for Ashburn, Virginia, Patch

Say Yes To These Dresses

From makeup and jewelry to the dazzling dress, prom expenses can quickly add up. And not everyone can afford it. Ocean City, New Jersey, high school senior Stephanie Carey decided to help. She collected dress donations and has organized a free prom dress giveaway that’s open to everyone — regardless of where they live or what school they attend. “Some of the dresses that girls are buying are like $500, and obviously everyone can't afford that, so I wanted everyone to feel special,” she told Patch. By Kimberlee Bongard for Ocean City, New Jersey, Patch

A Dream Come True

The Cover Girls, a group of women mentors and volunteers at the Miami Rescue Mission, have always recognized the birthdays of homeless children and teenagers. So they wanted to give Adriana Palmas a Parisian-themed quinceañera, a rite of passage for girls in Hispanic culture celebrating her 15th birthday and symbolizing her entrance into womanhood. Pandemic-related unemployment put the teen and her family in the shelter, and the Cover Girls wanted to bring some joy and normalcy to their lives. “It was amazing,” said rescue spokeswoman Daisy Diaz. “Adriana was overwhelmed. Everybody was in tears." By Tiffany Razzano for Miami Patch

She Found Her Dream In A Fire

By the way, 8-year-old Myra Shaik told Patch, “I want to be a firefighter when I grow up.” She has good reason. Her family awoke one morning in February to find their home in Lisle, Illinois, was on fire. They had enough time to get out, and the fire department quickly put out the blaze before too much damage was done. Myra sent the firefighters and hand-written thank-you note and gifts to express the family’s appreciation. She said she wants “to be a hero one day,” and in her book, firefighting fits the bill. By Lisa Marie Farver for Lisle, Illinois, Patch

Here’s Some Inspiration For You

Believe it or not, there are people who surf Lake Erie. And when you surf Lake Erie, you better wear a wetsuit. There are two reasons: one, Lake Erie is cold; two, it’s not the cleanest body of water in the world. Despite these obstacles, a dedicated crew of wave chasers still seek thrills on the shallowest of the Great Lakes. When it’s windy, “the current can get pretty rough,” Justin Albaugh, one of the hardy surfers, told Patch. “It can get like a wash machine.” By Chris Mosby for Cleveland Patch

Love Is Part Of The Training

The puppies Alissa Phillips and a cadre of volunteers love will one day be the eyes for people who’ve lost their sight. They have to keep theirs focused on that prize. “Giving them back is hard,” Phillips, the regional coordinator for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, told Patch. Her Yorktown Heights, New York-based nonprofit trains dogs with traits that make them exceptional guide and service dogs. They must be healthy, mannerly, focused and confident — all traits of a good family pet. But the work of “unique and amazing people” who raise the puppies pays off, according to trainer Andrea Martine, who said the loving care they receive as puppies “is carried with the dogs throughout their entire lives.” By Michael Woyton for Yorktown-Somers, New York, Patch

She Got Really Good At This

Shelley Miller was determined to crack the code to successfully make coronavirus vaccination appointments online. The retired kindergarten teacher from Fords, New Jersey, started in January to book appointments for herself and her husband. She got so skilled at it that she’s now booked about 150 appointments for New Jersey residents, many of whom she’s never met, earning the unofficial title of “Vaccine Angel.” By Carly Baldwin for Woodbridge, New Jersey, Patch

Breakthrough Because Doc Listened

Dr. Emily Szmuilowicz had been meeting with a diabetes patient for many years at the Northwestern Medicine Glenview Outpatient Center in Glenview, Illinois, when a routine appointment led to an important medical breakthrough. Szmuilowicz is proud that “a novel discovery and contribution has come out of our very own Glenview diabetes program,” she said, noting that “at the heart of the discovery was just listening to the patient.” By Eric DeGrechie for Glenview, Illinois, Patch

Never Lose Hope

Bleu is 10 years old and partially blind. Though microchipped, his owners kept hitting dead ends after reporting him missing from their 1,200-acre Dorchester County, Maryland, farm in November 2019. Someone probably stole him, rescue officials surmised. He was picked up by animal control officials miles and miles away, and eventually returned to his owner. The Howard County Animal Control & Shelter staff has one thing to say: "Never lose hope when your pet goes missing." By Kristin Danley-Greiner for Columbia, Maryland, Patch

“The Real Cherry Blossom Capital”

Social media feeds are as loaded with pictures of cherry blossoms as the trees are around Newark, New Jersey. They’re providing a much-needed breath of fresh air, pulling residents out of their houses and attracting visitors after a long, stressful winter. The cherry blossom peepers are social distancing and wearing masks as they capture their photos and videos (which you can see by clicking the following link). And New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker called Branch Brook Park, where trees are in full bloom, “the real cherry blossom capital of the United States.” By Eric Kiefer for Newark, New Jersey, Patch