Positively Uplifting Stories | August 4 2025

So many of us feel lonely and disconnected from time to time, but it's so important to remember that you’re not alone.

If you reach out and share your story, you may find support from unexpected places. Try your best to embrace a spirit of courage and compassion through the difficult times.

Even a brief conversation with a kind stranger can create space for healing and growth.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill

Let's take a look at a few stories that remind us that great things can happen when we uplift one another in our journeys. 

• A group of senior citizens come together to rescue seven young pups
• An eight-year-old’s donation efforts get a major boost
• An initiative feeds the vulnerable while empowering refugees
• A father’s persistence becomes a story of hope for non-speaking autistic community

Positively Uplifting Stories | August 4 2025

A group of senior citizens rescued and provided life-saving care to seven puppies.

This heartwarming video of dogs being rescued was shared by Maraya Pierro, founder of Rescue Kitties of Hawaii, a non-profit animal rescue organization.

After learning that several puppies were stranded underneath the deck of an abandoned property, Maraya reached out to a group of her mother’s friends, who quickly came to the rescue of the tiny puppies.

They came prepared with the tools needed to safely rescue the puppies from under the deck.

The pups had been alone and hungry for three days. Once rescued, they received the care they desperately needed and were placed in loving foster homes, where they’re now waiting to find their forever families.

“The community really stepped up and everybody came together to save their lives,” said Maraya.

A young boy gets major help towards his donation efforts.

Beck Lundgren recently sent LEGO care packages to children who lost their homes and all their toys in the devastating Texas Hill Country floods.

His act of kindness made national headlines and inspired countless others.

Donations began pouring in from people around the world, encouraging Beck to continue helping even more children. LEGO Masters, the international reality television show, even sent him a box filled with LEGO-themed gear to support his mission.

Beck’s story is a powerful reminder that when you take the first step, support can come from far and wide.

“All the notes that people put in the boxes, we’ve read those together as a family, and we just recognize how fortunate and blessed we are that people from all over have wanted to support not only Lego Looks, but Lego Looks plus KERR Together to help those little hands heal,” said Beck’s mother, Sarah.

Initiative offers food, support, and opportunities for connection to those in need.

 The Soup of Human Kindness offers meaningful opportunities to asylum seekers and refugee chefs, providing them with valuable work experience. The meals they prepare are then distributed free of charge to those going through a tough time.

Volunteers come from all over Sydney to cook and deliver nourishing meals. Apart from food, donations of clean bedding, clothing, and toiletries are provided to homeless individuals and residents of social housing.

For over five years, The Soup of Human Kindness has been strengthening and uplifting the local community through compassion.

“This is my second time, and I am learning so much. Times are so tough at the moment, there are so many people struggling, and just to be able to help out in a really small way is really meaningful,” said Chareen, a volunteer.

A father’s optimism and persistence are helping his son realize his full potential.

Viraj Dhanda is on the autism spectrum and has apraxia, a condition that affects his ability to speak and control his fingers.

For 14 years, his father, Sumit Dhanda, worked diligently to teach him basic communication skills. The breakthrough finally came when he noticed that Viraj was able to type using his thumb.

Sumit helped him harness his strengths through an alternative communication device that uses a text-to-speech function, enabling Viraj to express his thoughts clearly. Now, he is able to truly share his voice.

"I desperately wanted the world to know that I had a fully functional brain," Viraj said.

In the fall, he'll be heading to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge!

Thank You for Reading! 

Loneliness and feeling disconnected or misunderstood in this world can feel awful. But sometimes, the easiest way to connect with others is by reaching out our own hand to help. 

All of our stories this week underscore how every day people just like us jumped at opportunities to make someone else's life better - and brought communities together as a result. 

We hope that our Uplifting Stories touched a piece of you that needed some hope. Keep taking good care of yourselves and look for those opportunities to reach out!