Sat Mar 23, 2024 11:33 pm by globalturbo
Good People Doing Good Things — Lots Of ‘Em!
Posted on July 17, 2019 by jilldennison
It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to leave the dark world of politics for a few minutes and take a look at some good people who are quietly going about the business of being … good people!
A trio of teens …
A little after midnight, Aeron McQuillin, Bailey Campbell, and Billy Tarbett were on their way to Tim Horton’s coffee shop after a swim when they noticed steam billowing from under the hood of a car stopped along Highway 20 in Fonthill, Ontario.
The boys, all car enthusiasts, pulled over to lend a hand. After looking under the hood, they told the driver that it probably needed a new engine and advised against starting the motor. The woman was visibly upset and said she couldn’t afford a tow.
That’s when Billy suggested they push the car to the woman’s home in Welland.
“We had nothing better to do—but even if we did I would like to think we would have helped her anyway.”
The teens grabbed their water bottles and pushed the Chevy Cobalt up a hill and continued for more than two hours along the dark Merritville Highway, laughing, joking, and appreciating the great ‘workout’. “We were helping her, but also she was helping us,” said Tarbett.
Another stranger, Niagara Falls resident Dan Morrison, decided to drive along behind the trio to keep them safe—he turned on his flashers and totally went into “Dad mode”.
The cooperative rescue mission, which covered over 4 miles (7 km) finally ended at four in the morning. According to Aeron McQuillin …
“We were at the right place at the right time, and this is one of those stories that we can look back on in 10 years and say it was one of those crazy things we did, but it was all worth it.”
Dan posted about it on social media with a photo of the boys, and their phones began “blowing up” with messages from people they’d never met. Some offered a free meal or Tim Horton’s gift card.
But the boys were taking none of it.
“We really appreciate it, but we didn’t do this to get free handouts. If I was broken down on the side of the road, I would love for someone to stop and help out.”
Morrison, a father of two, said this was a great reminder that in a seemingly-negative world, “There’s good kids out there.”
Indeed … we sometimes need to be reminded of that, for in general we hear much more about those who are getting into trouble or causing mischief.
Eco-friendly skies …
Two thumbs up to Air New Zealand for slashing their use of plastic on flights—cutting out 55 million items, which will actually make the planes lighter, save a bit of fuel, but most importantly, cutting way down on the airline’s carbon footprint.
As of 2018, the company generated 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, making it one of New Zealand’s largest polluters. Management decided it was time to be pro-active and do what they could to be more environmentally conscientious. The list of plastics that will no longer be used is 55 million items long, and includes everything from plastic cups to water bottles, sauce packets to cheese trays. Every one of those pieces has a carbon footprint equal to around 3 ounces of carbon dioxide, so by eliminating them from the flights, Air New Zealand cuts out 10.3 million pounds of CO2 this year alone.
The majority of the 55 million items come in the form of 29 million cups. Passengers on international flights will still be able to get a cup of coffee when they want, but as of this fall, those cups will be made from plants. It’s a change the airline started earlier this year on domestic flights, swapping out 14.7 million for the plant-based version. The same goes for plastic water cups, which will be exchanged for a recyclable alternative.
Great job, New Zealand Air, and let’s hope other airlines quickly follow suit.
Two dads – six kids
Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been together for 18 years. They shared a commitment ceremony in 2006 and were legally married in Maryland in 2013. The couple raised two sons together, Parker, 25 and Noah, 21, from a previous marriage. But after their boys grew up, they decided they “weren’t done” being parents just yet and began exploring adoption.
Meanwhile, in Ohio there were six children – Carlos, 14, Guadalupe, 13, Maria, 12, Selena, 10, Nasa, 9, and Max, 7 – who had been in foster care for nearly five years. The children had been subjected to abuse and neglect, had been separated, and the parents finally lost all custodial rights.
Steve and Rob happened to see the children on an adoption website and the rest is history.
Steve and Rob were matched with the kids in June 2018. The siblings went to live with the couple a month later and have been with them ever since. The adoption was finalized on May 23rd. The judge asked the couple …
“Do you understand at this point forward they are your children? They are just as much as your biological children?”
Steve says …
“Obviously we knew that, but when I looked up and saw all those eyes, it was very emotional. We never imagined we’d be lucky enough or blessed enough to have six.”
How many couples do you know who, after raising two children to adulthood, are willing to start all over, taking on not one, not two, but six children? Today, all six siblings have the Anderson-McLean name and two doting dads.
“I’d say our kids have brought a great kind of crazy to our lives. It’s heartwarming and so exciting to see how they connect with us and our extended family and friends.”
“We’ve known them for less than a year, but at the same time, it feels as if our emotional bonds were years in the making. There are no rules as to what can constitute a family, and the love that we share.”
I give two thumbs up to these two men for giving so much to these six kids! The world needs more like them.
An editorial aside, if you will permit me. Right now, there are an estimated 690,000 children in U.S. foster care awaiting adoption. So, when social conservatives create laws allowing religious adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, they’re denying children a chance to be raised in a loving home.
And that’s all I’ve got for this week, folks. Isn’t it nice, though, to see people like these doing things that make the world just a little bit better place? ‘Til next week …
https://jilldennison.com/2019/07/17/good-people-doing-good-things-lots-of-em-3/
Thanks to: https://jilldennison.com
Posted on July 17, 2019 by jilldennison
It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to leave the dark world of politics for a few minutes and take a look at some good people who are quietly going about the business of being … good people!
A trio of teens …
A little after midnight, Aeron McQuillin, Bailey Campbell, and Billy Tarbett were on their way to Tim Horton’s coffee shop after a swim when they noticed steam billowing from under the hood of a car stopped along Highway 20 in Fonthill, Ontario.
The boys, all car enthusiasts, pulled over to lend a hand. After looking under the hood, they told the driver that it probably needed a new engine and advised against starting the motor. The woman was visibly upset and said she couldn’t afford a tow.
That’s when Billy suggested they push the car to the woman’s home in Welland.
“We had nothing better to do—but even if we did I would like to think we would have helped her anyway.”
The teens grabbed their water bottles and pushed the Chevy Cobalt up a hill and continued for more than two hours along the dark Merritville Highway, laughing, joking, and appreciating the great ‘workout’. “We were helping her, but also she was helping us,” said Tarbett.Another stranger, Niagara Falls resident Dan Morrison, decided to drive along behind the trio to keep them safe—he turned on his flashers and totally went into “Dad mode”.
The cooperative rescue mission, which covered over 4 miles (7 km) finally ended at four in the morning. According to Aeron McQuillin …
“We were at the right place at the right time, and this is one of those stories that we can look back on in 10 years and say it was one of those crazy things we did, but it was all worth it.”
Dan posted about it on social media with a photo of the boys, and their phones began “blowing up” with messages from people they’d never met. Some offered a free meal or Tim Horton’s gift card.
But the boys were taking none of it.
“We really appreciate it, but we didn’t do this to get free handouts. If I was broken down on the side of the road, I would love for someone to stop and help out.”
Morrison, a father of two, said this was a great reminder that in a seemingly-negative world, “There’s good kids out there.”
Indeed … we sometimes need to be reminded of that, for in general we hear much more about those who are getting into trouble or causing mischief.
Eco-friendly skies …
Two thumbs up to Air New Zealand for slashing their use of plastic on flights—cutting out 55 million items, which will actually make the planes lighter, save a bit of fuel, but most importantly, cutting way down on the airline’s carbon footprint.
As of 2018, the company generated 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide each year, making it one of New Zealand’s largest polluters. Management decided it was time to be pro-active and do what they could to be more environmentally conscientious. The list of plastics that will no longer be used is 55 million items long, and includes everything from plastic cups to water bottles, sauce packets to cheese trays. Every one of those pieces has a carbon footprint equal to around 3 ounces of carbon dioxide, so by eliminating them from the flights, Air New Zealand cuts out 10.3 million pounds of CO2 this year alone.
The majority of the 55 million items come in the form of 29 million cups. Passengers on international flights will still be able to get a cup of coffee when they want, but as of this fall, those cups will be made from plants. It’s a change the airline started earlier this year on domestic flights, swapping out 14.7 million for the plant-based version. The same goes for plastic water cups, which will be exchanged for a recyclable alternative.
Great job, New Zealand Air, and let’s hope other airlines quickly follow suit.
Two dads – six kids
Steve and Rob Anderson-McLean of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have been together for 18 years. They shared a commitment ceremony in 2006 and were legally married in Maryland in 2013. The couple raised two sons together, Parker, 25 and Noah, 21, from a previous marriage. But after their boys grew up, they decided they “weren’t done” being parents just yet and began exploring adoption.
Meanwhile, in Ohio there were six children – Carlos, 14, Guadalupe, 13, Maria, 12, Selena, 10, Nasa, 9, and Max, 7 – who had been in foster care for nearly five years. The children had been subjected to abuse and neglect, had been separated, and the parents finally lost all custodial rights.
Steve and Rob happened to see the children on an adoption website and the rest is history.
Steve and Rob were matched with the kids in June 2018. The siblings went to live with the couple a month later and have been with them ever since. The adoption was finalized on May 23rd. The judge asked the couple …
“Do you understand at this point forward they are your children? They are just as much as your biological children?”
Steve says …
“Obviously we knew that, but when I looked up and saw all those eyes, it was very emotional. We never imagined we’d be lucky enough or blessed enough to have six.”
How many couples do you know who, after raising two children to adulthood, are willing to start all over, taking on not one, not two, but six children? Today, all six siblings have the Anderson-McLean name and two doting dads.“I’d say our kids have brought a great kind of crazy to our lives. It’s heartwarming and so exciting to see how they connect with us and our extended family and friends.”
“We’ve known them for less than a year, but at the same time, it feels as if our emotional bonds were years in the making. There are no rules as to what can constitute a family, and the love that we share.”
I give two thumbs up to these two men for giving so much to these six kids! The world needs more like them.
An editorial aside, if you will permit me. Right now, there are an estimated 690,000 children in U.S. foster care awaiting adoption. So, when social conservatives create laws allowing religious adoption agencies to discriminate against same-sex couples, they’re denying children a chance to be raised in a loving home.
And that’s all I’ve got for this week, folks. Isn’t it nice, though, to see people like these doing things that make the world just a little bit better place? ‘Til next week …
https://jilldennison.com/2019/07/17/good-people-doing-good-things-lots-of-em-3/
Thanks to: https://jilldennison.com
