Weekly Uplifting Stories - May 1st, 2023

Welcome back to Weekly Uplifting Stories! 

I don't know about you, but since we started looking for Uplifting Stories, I find myself paying more attention to the world around me, noticing small acts of kindness in my day to day. Someone opening a door for another person, or letting them cut in front of them at the grocery store because they had fewer purchases. 

Once you open your eyes, you may be surprised at what you notice! Positivity is all around us, we just have to be mindful of it. 

This week, we have five delightful stories for you: 

• A UPS driver is sweetly surprised
• A 5-year-old boy stays firm on his mission, despite being made fun of
• A Belgian workshop for kids to not be afraid of the hospital 
• A retired schoolteacher who makes people's days
• Preschool kids learn about giving back

UPS Driver's Delighted Reaction to Snacks Left on Front Porch

A Louisville, Kentucky UPS delivery driver got a sweet surprise when he saw that one house put out a cart full of snacks and refreshments on their front porch. 

The driver is absolutely delighted and almost dancing with glee as he sees the spread, chooses his goodies and throwing out a, "Thank you!" as he moves on to his next house. 

"Oh! Capri Suns are my favorite! Yessssss." he says to the door camera. 

Toni Hillison Barnett and her husband started putting out a cart full of delicious treats for their delivery drivers to take during special occasions like Christmas, as a thank you for, 'making their holiday shopping so much easier,' according to a note the driver reads out in the video. 

They started the tradition 3 years ago as a simple act of kindness, hoping the viral video encourages others to do the same. 

Tap on the link to watch the driver's charming reaction on two different occasions.

Belgium's Teddy Bears Clinic Aims to Make Hospitals Less Scary for Kids

What a wonderful idea! 

At the Teddy Bear's Clinic in Brussels, Belgium, children are encouraged to bring their favorite toys to learn about what happens when they go to the hospital.

Run by medical students, the workshop is aimed at helping kids be less scared of going to the hospital, since a lot of the fear comes from just not knowing what is going to happen. 

"When children don't have any experience of something, they're apprehensive. They don't cooperate with treatment. So, coming to the Teddy Bears Clinic allows them to discover the world of medicine." - Laurine Anselmo, President of Teddy Bears Clinic

Kids can ask questions, watch their stuffies get operated on, and sometimes even assist the doctors if they want to get involved. The program has treated over 6,000 children and their toys in a 10 year span!

You can watch the video here.

Little Boy Ignores Teasing to Stick to His Mission - to Grow His Hair to Help Kids With Cancer

It's been three years since little Guangnian had a haircut - and it's all for a lovely cause.

This compassionate 5-year-old once saw a sick girl on TV wishing for hair and decided that he was going to grow it long enough to be able to donate it to kids going through cancer.

"My classmates called me a girl on the first day of kindergarten," says little Guangnian.

Even though he's been uncomfortably mistaken for a girl many times, he refuses to chop his hair, saying that he wants to keep going so he can help others. He's since gained a lot of online attention, with many people encouraging him to stay strong, telling him not to let negative comments sway him from his kind plans. 

You can watch the adorable video here.

Retired Schoolteacher Spreads Positivity With 'DayMaker' Bags

A positive message and a small kindness can go a long way! 500 Gilbert, Arizona schoolteachers and staff recently received 'DayMaker' bags full of snacks, office and classroom supplies in hopes of making their day brighter and helping to alleviate some of the feelings of burnout reported by educators.

Retired elementary school teacher Patti Mamalis started the Teacher DayMaker Project as part of her Power word Postcards business. Her positive postcards are made to inspire and reward people and can be used for personal mantras, affirmations and feel-good messages.

"A DayMaker is a person who makes people’s day. With Power word Postcards it is easy to be a DayMaker because when someone receives a handwritten message in their mailbox, it literally makes their day." - from Power Word Postcards

Thanks to donations from sponsors and community members, Patti and 25 volunteers recently assembled and delivered the 500 bags of snacks, office supplies and school supplies for the local schoolteachers and staff.

Preschoolers Learn About Philanthropy by Raising Money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Every April at The Learning Experience, the early education philanthropy program teaches preschoolers about kindness, inclusion and helping others. The tots learn about donating and giving, making glittery paper stars to present to others and raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The program helps the kids learn about giving back at an early age, laying foundational skills they can carry with them throughout their lives.

"From Infant through to preschool, we make early education and daycare joyful, engaging and fun so children are happy to learn, play and grow. Our mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of our children, their families, and the communities we serve." - The Learning Experience

Last year, their country-wide fundraiser brought in over $1.5 million for the Make-a-Wish foundation. This year, they hope to double that, granting more wishes to other kids. 

You can watch the little tykes making colorful paper stars in this video.

Have a Great Week Everyone! 

As always, if you have an uplifting story to share, please reach out to us in the comments below, or send us a message on our Instagram page to be featured in a future article. 

Have a great week everyone, and take care of each other! 

Photo by Tatiana Syrikova