Kindness of 'Charlie's Cooler' spreads to 15 states and overseas

I'm so thankful to be healing well. Now, back to reading and writing and actually participating in life!

Over five years ago, New Jersey resident Charlie Poveromo watched sanitation workers pick up  neighborhood trash during a brutal heat wave. The men were sweaty and pale, so Charlie ran out with a jug of cold water and some cups for the workers. That same day, he started a summer tradition: stock a cooler full of iced drinks and leave it open on his lawn for overheated landscapers, sanitation workers, mail personnel, etc. Dozens of people helped themselves to Charlie's kindness every week for years.

Charlie died unexpectedly in March. This summer, his widow, Velvet, set out the cooler with a note stating that she would do her best to carry on her husband's tradition. Social media spread the word. Now Charlie's Coolers have popped up throughout New Jersey, plus 15 other states, the Virgin Islands, Italy, and Japan.

Velvet is delighted with the response. Seeing the way Charlie touches people even after his death "helps heal me," she said. "And it all started with this: a cooler on a lawn."  

Home security camera captures 3 kids returning a wallet with $700 inside

When a news station gets hold of home security footage, it's often broadcast to identify a criminal. Aurora, Colorado area stations broadcast this footage to help identify three great kids. It worked.

A couple weeks ago, Haylie Wenke, 13, and her 6-year-old brother Reagan were riding bikes with a friend. They spotted a wallet in a driveway, brought it up to the door, and rang the bell. The smart doorbell system answered, and the surprised-looking kids explained their find. "We found your wallet outside of your car and we just thought we would give it back to you. I'm going to put it over here so no one takes the money," Haylie said. 

The wallet had $700 inside.

The homeowner, Jamie Carlton, was grateful for the kids' honesty. He wanted to thank them personally, but didn't know who they were. So he posted the security video on Facebook in hopes of finding the kids. The video was picked up local news outlets, which led Carlton to Haylie's mother. He was able to contact the kids to thank them for their honesty. He said the kids' action, 'refreshed your faith in humanity." 

Small kindness of Waffle House waitress goes viral, lands her a scholarship

Laura Wolf was eating at a Waffle House in La Marque, Texas earlier this month. She overheard an elderly customer on oxygen ask a passing waitress for help. He said his hands weren't working well and needed help cutting his ham. Eighteen-year-old Evoni Williams was that passing waitress, and she did what she always does - stopped and helped. Laura captured the small kindness on her phone and shared it on Facebook. The post went viral.

As word spread locally, Evoni was thrown into the spotlight. The public learned she works at Waffle House to save for her college education where she plans to major in business. Last week, various officials met her at the Waffle House including media to record the event. The mayor issued a proclamation, declaring Thursday Evoni Williams Day. She was given a huge vase of flowers and got to meet Laura, the woman who captured the kindness to begin with. Then, a representative from Texas Southern University came forward. He presented Evoni with a $16,000 scholarship to be used toward four semesters' tuition.

Evoni is understandably delighted with the accolades, but doesn't quite see what all the fuss is about. She says, "I was just doing what I do every day."