A small act of grace
Vol. 3, Issue 46
THE GOOD NEWS
A lesson in giving
In high schools that still offer shop classes, students will generally make items like napkin holders or birdhouses. But at one Texas school, they build toys.
Students at the Dallas Independent School District's Career Institute South cut and assemble rocking horses in their woodworking class. The toys are then donated as holiday gifts to sick children staying at the Ronald McDonald House.
For more than four decades, shop teacher Terry Stotts has been focused on empowering his students with skills -- and a sense of compassion.
"Most people nowadays, they can receive, but they can't give back," Stotts told NBCDFW. "It's just having a heart for other people, you know, helping other people, and like I said, giving back to people that need help."
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Good for goodness sake
When Reed Marcum was 11, he launched an annual toy giveaway through Oklahoma 4-H. It was a small event that collected about 1,000 toys and spread holiday cheer to children in his hometown of McAlester.
Last weekend, the now 19-year-old college sophomore hosted the largest-ever 4-H toy giveaway. With the assistance of over 100 volunteers, Marcum distributed more than 15,000 toys, clothing and other essentials to struggling families from Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas.
Marcum's generosity is not limited to the holiday season. His first 4-H service project involved giving away thousands of book bags and school supplies to kids in need. When a member of his community died of cancer, he started the Hudson Strong Foundation and raised over $180,000 to support pediatric cancer research.
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Another Christmas tale
Did you enjoy last week’s humorous story about “Polly Anderson’s Christmas Party” by Stuart McLean of “The Viny Cafe”? Then you’ll love this week’s sequel. (If you haven’t had the chance to hear the first one, treat yourself now.)
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THIS WEEK’S POLL
LAST WEEK’S POLL
THIS WEEK IN (POSITIVE) HISTORY
On December 11, 1946, UNICEF — the United Nations program devoted to improving the health, nutrition, education and general welfare of children — was established.
On December 12, 1968, Arthur Ashe became the first Black person to be ranked No. 1 in tennis.
On December 13, 1759, the first music store in the U.S. opened in Philadelphia.
On December 14, 1911, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first man to reach the South Pole.
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights became law.
On December 16, 1912, the first U.S. postage stamp featuring an image of an airplane was issued. It cost 20 cents.
On December 17, 1989, "The Simpsons" debuted.
On December 18, 1892, Peter Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker Suite" premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia.
THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS
December 11: New York City Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia, astronomer Annie Jump Cannon and Nobel Prize-winning German physicist Max Born
December 12: Supreme Court Justice John Jay, singer/actor Frank Sinatra and actress Jennifer Connelly
December 13: first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Canadian painter Emily Carr and boxer Archie Moore
December 14: former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, former FBI director James Comey and actress Vanessa Hudgens
December 15: architect Oscar Niemeyer, political strategist Donna Brazile and actor Charlie Cox
December 16: German composer/pianist Ludwig van Beethoven, English novelist Jane Austen and anthropologist Margaret Mead
December 17: British novelist Ford Madox Ford, producer/director Rian Johnson and actress Claire Forlani
December 18: English clown/pantomimist Joseph Grimaldi, baseball player Ty Cobb and pianist/bandleader Fletcher Henderson
THIS WEEK’S FUN HOLIDAYS
December 11 is International Mountain Day, National App Day, National Noodle Ring Day and National Stretching Day
December 12 is International Universal Health Coverage Day, National Ambrosia Day, National Ding-a-Ling Day, National Poinsettia Day, Choral Day, Gingerbread Decorating Day and Gingerbread House Day
December 13 is National Cocoa Day, National Cream Cheese Frosting Day, National Horse Day, National Ice Cream Day and National Violin Day
December 14 is National Bouillabaisse Day, National Energy Conservation Day, Monkey Day and Roast Chestnuts Day
December 15 is International Tea Day, National Cupcake Day, National Lemon Cupcake Day, National ReGifting Day, National Wear Your Pearls Day, Bill of Rights Day, Cat Herders Day and Ugly Sweater Day
December 16 is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, National Underdog Day and Day of Reconciliation
December 17 is National Device Appreciation Day, National Maple Syrup Day, National Say It Now Day and Wright Brothers Day
December 18 is International Migrants Day, National Roast Suckling Pig Day, National Twin Day, Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day, Arabic Language Day, Bake Cookies Day and Flake Appreciation Day
SIMPLE PLEASURES
* Baking, and then eating, a Yule log
* Completing your holiday cards
* Putting the last presents under the Christmas tree
HOW TO SPREAD JOY/KINDNESS
* Drop off treats for the staff at a local hospital
* Leave a bag of presents at a friend's door
* Wish everyone you meet a "happy holiday"
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RECOMMENDED SUBSTACK
MY LITTLE ONES - PAST & PRESENT
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"At Christmas, tea is compulsory. Relatives are optional." --Robert Godden
MOMENT OF GRATITUDE
Thanks to The Dallas Independent School District's Career Institute South, WFAA, YouTube, DFWChild, NBCDFW, Apple News, Elliot Levy, Sunshine Sachs Morgan & Lylis, Kurtis Hair/SUNUP, 4-H, Fox 23 News, Fox 25, Stuart McLean, The Vinyl Cafe, The Moonlight Reader Society, History.com, This Day in History, Britannica, Time and Date, On This Day, the Library of Congress, IMDb, Famous Birthdays, This Day in Music, National Today, National Day Calendar, Holidays Calendar, The End Files, Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, Generosity of Spirit, Canva and Deposit Photos for art and story suggestions.
KEEP IN TOUCH
Read a positive/uplifting news story lately? Have an inspiring quote you want to share? Or do you just want to let me know about some of your favorite simple pleasures?
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