13 Good News Stories: Derecho Has A Bright Side, And It’s You

ACROSS AMERICA — There’s nothing like a natural disaster to define what being a good neighbor means. We’ve seen it along the East Coast as residents clean up from Hurricane Isaias, and on the West Coast, where fire crews battling wildfires are dealing with phenomena known as “firenados.”

And we’ve seen it in the Midwest, where a derecho — a widespread storm packing sustained hurricane-forced winds — knocked down power lines and trees, but not the resolve of others to help out where they could.

Here are some example of what good neighbors do in these situations:

Steve Buresh’s Cheesecake Store & Sandwich Shop in suburban Chicago kept power after the derecho moved through, but he saw the devastation that left many in the dark in his neighborhood. “I always say, ‘When I can, I will help,’ ” he said, explaining why he handed out free food to his neighbors.

“We are fortunate to have power so close to everyone without power,” Buresh said. “These residents might lose their perishable goods soon, and giving a free meal will help them keep that refrigerator closed and hopefully cold until power comes back on.” By Abhinanda Datta for Plainfield Patch

Driven By Love Of Community

Cell phones are so essential “they’re like a second home,” Amy Bristol Keleher wrote on the wall of a Facebook group for moms in Beverly, Illinois, explaining that she set up a station in front of her house so residents without power could stop by and charge their phones. “I use mine for a flashlight — everything,” she wrote of the value of her cell phone. “Not having power, you're truly disconnected and that's a horrible feeling.” By Lorraine Swanson for Beverly-MtGreenwood Patch

Driven By Love Of Community, Part 2

Peter Rubi, a family owned market in Plainfield, was driven by an intense love for the community in a giveaway of free boxes of groceries to folks who lost power in the storm (top photo). “We wanted to make light of the recent storm and not let our produce go to waste,” the store’s marketing manager, Katherine Witcpalek said. “We wanted to make sure those who have had a tough time lately were reassured that there is both hope and people to rely on for assistance when they need it.” By Abhinanda Datta for Plainfield Patch

Neither Isaias Nor The Coronavirus Nor A Tornado ...

Two of Connecticut’s newest residents aren’t likely to forget Hurricane Isaias. Their move from Texas involved a lot of dodging of downed trees, felled utility poles and collapsed wires — not that they’re strangers to chaos. They began planning their move this spring just as the coronavirus outbreak was taking hold. They had a good laugh because they dodged a tornado when moving from Utah to Texas in 2016. But Isaias was no match for the real estate agent they’d selected to help find their new Connecticut home. By Chris Dehnel for Farmington Patch

This Story Is As Sweet As Sugar

Sugar loves snuggling. The 6-year-old lab with a pale white and gold coat cuddles next to her new owners every night. She's also quite intelligent. On a warm summer day at Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire, Sugar seemed to know she was the topic of conversation, even letting out a "happy" bark as her vacationing family finished talking to Patch. Her new owners were gushing over her. And her bark let them know she was aware of that. But just nine short months ago, it was far from certain Sugar could survive, given her condition. If not for her resiliency and the love and support of a Great Neck native's family, Sugar may be but a memory. By Daniel Hampton for Great Neck Patch

Only Seconds To Spare

A man who uses a wheelchair to get around got stuck on the railroad tracks in California just as the crossing arms lowered and a train was hurtling toward him. Police Officer Erika Urrea saw what was about to happen jumped from her patrol car and pulled him from danger, risking her own life to save another’s. See the video. By Susan G. Schena for Across Calfiornia Patch

Only Seconds To Spare, Part 2

Good Samaritans tried to save a driver from a burning car that had crashed into a tree, but the door was jammed, thwarting their efforts. The car was engulfed in flames when a California Highway Patrol officer who risked his life to pull the driver through a window and to safety. By Bea Karnes for Lamorinda Patch

Sharing The Burden

Angela Sun, Madeleine Zheng, and Mae Zhang have all gone off to college now to pursue their academic dreams, but they haven’t forgotten folks back home in Tucson, Arizona. When the coronavirus pandemic shut down schools, they formed a free virtual tutoring service for parents struggling to teach children in subjects ranging from algebra to chemistry. “It takes that burden away from the parent, especially because they have to work and right now it's kind of a financially stressful time as well,” Zheng said. By Lindsay Walker for Tucson Patch

Packing The Packs

Ryan Janaske has always helped out her peers by filling backpacks with school supplies through her Kids Helping Kids program. The 13-year-old realized a few years ago that she has more advantages than some of her classmates and wanted to help them. Then the coronavirus pandemic hit and “the backpack girl,” as she’s known around her Virginia community, had to adjust her strategy. By Mark Hand for Ashburn Patch

For 60 Years, He Has Been A Lifeline

The day Jack Luts was sworn in as a member of the Madison Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the big news was that presidential candidate John F. Kennedy asked Lyndon Johnson to be his running mate. It was July 14, 1960, and Luts was an 18-year-old volunteer. Now, 60 years later, Luts was presented the Mayor’s Hero Award. By Carl Stoffers for Madison Patch

Defying The Odds

Rubie Rosario faced this dilemma when she was 17, a senior in high school and pregnant: “I have to stop my life and raise another, or not have my baby and go to college,” she said. She chose the former and would have done so alone if not for a group called YoungLives Danbury that helps teens in similar situations keep their goals on track. By Rich Kirby for Danbury Patch

Adversity Is A Good Teacher

When the first Miami-Dade County homeless resident died of COVID-19, Ronald L. Book said he “literally cried for two days.” During the first six or seven weeks of the pandemic, no homeless residents had died of the disease and only a handful had been hospitalized. Book, who chairs the Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust, said the organization was committed to keeping the infection rate and death toll at a minimum among homeless residents — and they’ve largely succeeded. By Paul Scicchitano for Miami Patch

Adversity Is A Good Teacher, Part 2

A pro wrestler from New Jersey with a "bloodthirsty intensity that makes everyone cower" has gained a new appreciation for the "fragility of life" after his year-long battle with cancer. The wrestler known as “Heartless Hellraiser Dracko” wrote on social media that it helped him to hear from others who had beat leukemia, “so I'm hoping that I can help someone say, ‘I can do what he did.’ ” By Eric Kiefer for Belleville-Nutley Patch

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