These 9 Good News Stories Are An Antidote For What Ails You

ACROSS AMERICA — Breaking the cycle of poverty takes deliberate action.

Irana McNish lived in subsidized housing for years but had her eye on home ownership. She did what was needed to put herself in a financial position to meet the monthly mortgage obligation.

She has been a health care worker for years, but was recently capped as a registered nurse after completing school. She qualified for financing with Envoy Mortgage and is moving into her new home.

She got more than financing, though. Envoy is picking up McNish and 49 other customers’ September mortgage payments through its Gift of Home program — a generous act that came as a complete surprise to the new homeowner.

The mortgage company said the people who got the bonus mortgage payments included “those who have been giving back to their communities as military veterans, first responders, nurses, educators, and small business owners and employees.” By Jarret Liotta for Fairfield, Connecticut, Patch

Quick Action Saves Toddler’s Life

Can we get a virtual shoutout for Kennady Hill, a youngster who was visiting a hotel in Anaheim, California, with her family when she saved a 3-year-old boy’s life? The toddler was struggling to keep his head above water in the pool and, “without hesitation, she went over and pulled the young child out of the water,” said Anaheim Fire Capt. Michael Byard, who presented her with a certificate of heroism for her life-saving effort. By Ashley Ludwig for Orange County, California, Patch

A ‘Force Of Nature’

It doesn’t happen often that Kathy Biddle, the athletic director at a high school in Florida, is caught at a loss for words. Known among her colleagues as a “force of nature,” she has given four decades of her life to Clearwater High School, serving in coaching and teaching positions before becoming AD. Last week, she became the first woman in the county to have a football field named in her honor. By D’Ann Lawrence-White for Clearwater, Florida, Patch

Hurricane Cuisine

Celebrity chef José Andrés took his World Central Kitchen to New Orleans, where more than 100,000 meals are being supplied to help people in need following Hurricane Ida, which hit the Gulf Coast Sunday as a Category 4 storm and ranks among the most powerful hurricanes to hit the U.S. mainland. Andrés' World Central Kitchen was already in Haiti, and plans to provide meals all across the South. By Colleen Martin for Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Maryland, Patch

One Very Terrified Goat

Who can blame this goat for being frightened after falling 30 feet into a sinkhole? The poor thing bleated pitifully — distress sounds that, fortunately, the goat’s owner heard. Adam Hudson, the firefighter in High Springs, Florida, who drew the short straw and had to climb down into the hole, is a seasoned sinkhole rescuer. The department has been called out five times in the past year to perform sinkhole rescues. By D’Ann Lawrence White for Tampa, Florida, Patch

Lost Pet Reunion, Part 1

Harley, a 15-year-old Quaker parrot, literally flew the coop on the Fourth of July. Frightened by fireworks, Edith “Edie” May’s bird flew 52 miles in six weeks. Looking for Harley was as much a part of her daily routine as brushing her teeth. “People thought I was crazy,” May told Patch, but eventually her neighbors joined in the search. “Harley! Harley!” they’d shout as they saw her driving around searching for the bird. Finally, she got the call she’d been waiting for: Harley had been found. “There were hundreds of people I didn't know who shared the news online and said they were praying for me and my bird,” she said. “It was so overwhelming that people gave a crap.” By Alessia Grunberger for Port Washington, New York, Patch

Lost Pet Reunion, Part 2

Whisper is a little thin from whatever he’s been up to for the past five weeks, but it’s a safe bet Lois Beekman will be taking care of that in short order. Whisper is a declawed house cat unaccustomed to fending for himself. Beekman was taking him to an animal hospital when the bottom fell out of his carrier and he bolted. He was far from home, and she feared Whisper would never find his way home, so she hired an animal tracker whose relentless efforts ended with the reunion. By Lisa Finn for Westhampton-Hampton Bays, New York, Patch

Lost Pet Reunion, Part 3

Bear, Lisa Folkerts’ dog, likes to “sing” along with her children when they play the harmonica. The dog bolted from a dog walker in mid-August when he saw a fox and headed deep into the woods. Folkerts and other volunteers mounted a massive for Bear, and she was about to head home for the night Saturday when she heard a familiar chorus — loud, consistent, frantic and steady barking. She spirited into the woods and through briar patches and played the harmonica for all she was worth. She heard a bark and found her beloved pooch entangled in the thorny overgrowth — which might have been his fate for a couple of weeks. By Alexis Tarrazi for Bridgewater, New Jersey, Patch

Making Room For More Rescues

Before Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana on Sunday, animal welfare groups were busy evacuating dogs from shelters. Ten of them found temporary homes at the Potter League for Animals in Middletown, Rhode Island. They were among nearly 40 shelter dogs that were moved to make room for animals affected by the powerful storm. By Rachel Nunes for Newport, Rhode Island, Patch

Find Your Patch

Patch is in more than 1,000 communities across America. Find your community and see what's happening outside your front door.