We could all use a boost to our faith in humanity. Our history books are filled with wars and class struggles, and our news media with the same. It can sometimes be hard to keep our faith in our fellow humans, but there is good news.

For every unsettling or tragic event in history, there has been another that was kind and profound. Humanity has a lot of good within its nature. We have evidence of human compassion millions of years ago, we currently perform remarkable acts of kindness every day, and we will likely continue to far into the future.

This list collects ten of those moments throughout history, ten examples of mercy and charity that will restore your faith in humanity.

Related: 10 Heartwarming Stories To Restore Your Faith In Humanity

10 Owens and Long

Jesse Owens’s performance and class at the 1936 Olympic Games are inspiring and well-known. A lesser-known fact about those Olympic Games, however, which may prompt even more inspiration, is the friendship it forged between Owens and German Olympian Luz Long.

Though Long was competing as an official representative of Hitler himself, he showed no fear in befriending and aiding Owens. At one point, Owens, though he had already raked in four gold medals, was struggling to qualify for the long jump event. It was then that Long, despite his Führer’s open contempt for Owens, offered the American star some advice, which actually allowed Owens to successfully qualify. Owens later said of the meeting, “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have, and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace.”

The two remained friends until Long’s death in 1943 when he even penned one of his final letters to Owens.

9 An Accidental Family

When Wanda Dench texted her grandson to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner at her Mesa, Arizona, home, she received a surprising response: “You not my grandma. Can I still get a plate tho?” She wrote back, “Of course. That’s what grandma’s do…feed everyone.” And thus, a loving family was created by accident.

Dench had mistakenly texted Jamal Hinton, a total stranger, and due to the openness in both their hearts, Hinton ended up actually going to Dench’s house for Thanksgiving. Six Thanksgivings later, the makeshift family is closer than ever. Plans for a movie on their unlikely friendship are in the works.

8 A Dog-Based Ceasefire

It is a strange but true fact that, during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington ordered a ceasefire in order to return a lost dog to an enemy general.

After the two forces met in combat, Washington noticed the dog had mistakenly stowed away with his troops. Reading its collar, he found that it belonged to enemy general William Howe. Washington’s troops, having just lost their battle, wanted to keep the dog as a bargaining chip. Washington, however, was too honorable to consider it.

He promptly sent the dog back to its owner with a note: “General Washington’s compliments to General Howe, does himself the pleasure to return [to] him a Dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe.”

7 Strays Welcome

While we’re on the subject of our longtime best friends, it’s worth mentioning the many acts of charity performed on their behalf.

One charming example was the decision by an Ikea store on the island of Sicily to leave their doors open during the cold winter to any stray dogs that needed shelter. Not only did they give the needy strays shelter, but they also let them sleep on a veritable cornucopia of assorted Ikea rugs. They also groomed and fed the dogs and even posted their pictures to adoption websites to find them permanent homes.

6 Not Slaves After All

It is a widely-held misconception that slaves built the pyramids of Egypt. While it is true that a select minority were enslaved, most who built the pyramids were skilled laborers and craftsmen who were paid for their work. That should already restore a bit of faith, but there is more.

Though the builders were generally paid handsomely for their work, there was a period in which their compensation began to arrive sporadically and late. This led to the first strikes in recorded history, as builders refused to continue creating the pyramids. Though officials, under the rule of Ramesses III, initially had no idea how to handle this unprecedented situation, they eventually met the strikers’ demands: from then on, their payments were timely and regular. The first strike in history was a success.

5 Castle Itter

The Battle of Castle Itter has come to be known as the strangest battle of World War II, and it deserves another title: perhaps the most faith-restoring.

The battle occurred just days after Hitler committed suicide and days before the war’s official end. During this brief window, regular German troops were freer to show their true colors as Nazi leadership crumbled. The Battle of Castle Itter demonstrated this well, as it saw U.S. and German soldiers join forces and fight together (also with French POWs and the Austrian Resistance) against a force of Nazi SS soldiers. It helped show the world that Hitler’s evil couldn’t truly overtake an entire country.

4 Without a Second Thought

This entry and the next prove the unimaginable and immediate selflessness that we are capable of in the face of unspeakable tragedy—in this case, the terror attacks of 9/11. Immediately following the initial attacks on the World Trade Center, tunnels were closed, and traffic fleeing Manhattan via bridges reached a standstill. Many civilians, especially in those neighborhoods closest to the attacks, were desperate to escape the island but had no way to do so. Luckily, their salvation came like lightning.

A coast guard transmission went out. “All available boats,” it said. “This is the United States Coast Guard… Anyone wanting to help with the evacuation of Lower Manhattan report to Governors Island.” Within minutes, around 150 private ships of all shapes, sizes, and purposes reported for duty and got to work. All told, these heroic captains transported around 500,000 people away from the disaster zone. This came to be known as the 9/11 Boat Lift, which to this day, is the largest water evacuation in history.

3 Operation Yellow Ribbon

Another consequence of the 9/11 attacks was the entirely unprecedented grounding of all aircraft over the United States. The grounding of that many planes had never been attempted so quickly. Though so many at the Federal Aviation Administration and the many airports performed admirably, a certain amount of chaos was guaranteed. Luckily, Canada stepped up and volunteered to divert around 240 aircraft to its own airports. Their sole goal: to prevent further attacks by rerouting as many planes still in the air as possible to military and civilian airports in Canada.

Seventeen airports voluntarily took in the fleet of aircraft, knowing full well that any of them could contain terrorists as well. Luckily, Canadian authorities were able to rule out all of the flights as threats. So, in true Canadian fashion, many of the grounded passengers were treated with the utmost care. Some were even escorted by locals around the town they were grounded in, shown the sights, and treated like honored guests.

2 Make Christmas, Not War

The 1914 Christmas Truce during World War I has endured as one of the most impactful moments of spontaneous human kindness in recent history—and with good reason. Coming in the middle of one of the bloodiest wars in human history, the unplanned and entirely unofficial truce between German and British troops on Christmas Day seems like a major, albeit brief, miracle.

All along the Western Front, one of the most brutal battlefields in history, German and British troops (alongside many other nations’ forces) had been hunkered down in trenches and shooting anything that moved between the lines, creating a lethal no-man’s-land. And yet on Christmas, in many places along the Front, soldiers from one side or another left their trenches, called out to their erstwhile enemies, and joined for caroling and feasting.

There was no order for a truce. Soldiers on both sides simply acted on the same wish at the same time: for this one day to be filled with peace and what joy could be found.

1 Compassion Is Ancient

Acts of kindness are not a new invention. It’s likely that, for as long as there have been humans, there has been human kindness. In 2005, archaeologists announced a find that likely provides evidence of this innate compassion as far back as almost two million years ago. At Dmanisi, Georgia, a dig site that had already yielded a lot of information about our ancestors, scientists uncovered a skull and jawbone that will make you say, “Awww.”

The skull and jawbone were from an adult male, likely quite old and possibly ill. The man had lost all but one of his teeth, and (importantly) his tooth sockets had been resorbed into his skull. That meant that the man had lost his teeth at least two years before dying. Further, it could indicate that he was somehow able to obtain and/or prepare enough soft food to survive for years—a feat which he was unlikely to manage by himself.

Combined with nearby evidence, such as stone tools and animal bones with cut marks, the scene suggests that the old man, though possibly ill, unable to hunt, and unable to chew his own food, had one or more loved ones who took care of him. For years, and to the detriment of their own caloric needs, they may have shared their meat and foraged food, helped the old man cut food up, and even chewed his food for him. Since this would serve little to maintain their survival, it’s likely that the individual(s) that helped the old man to keep going did so out of pure affection.

Movies depicting true events such as the 9/11 attacks, the World Wars, and the Holocaust might have you thinking that the world is headed to hell in a handbasket. Perhaps the incidences have hit closer home, and nothing can convince you that a shred of humanity is left in the world.

A trip to a professional such as a therapist will lead you to options such as asking you to volunteer more, be more trusting, spend time with children, and actively seek out good news, among others. While these options might work, these ten true-story movies will also help restore your faith in humanity.

Spoiler Alert Warning!

Related: 10 Recent Heartwarming Deeds That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity

10 Just Mercy

We’re greater than our worst mistakes. We all need mercy. The movie Just Mercy features heavy-weight actor Michael B. Jordan as lawyer Bryan Stevenson and academy-winning Jamie Foxx as Walter McMillian. And this film is nothing short of tear-jerking. After completing his studies, Stevenson dedicates his life to helping people of color from harsh treatment and unfair punishment. At the heart of such false accusations is Walter Macmillan, a black man framed for the murder of Ronda Morrison.

When Stevenson takes up Walter’s case, his biggest task is to prove beyond reasonable doubt that his client did not commit the murder he was accused of. However, this wasn’t any other average case. It was one of a black lawyer defending a black defendant charged with murder in a state and time where people of color didn’t have many privileges. Yes, fair trials were considered privileges for people of color.

Given that he had just completed his studies and didn’t have much ground to stand on, Stevenson goes on a hunt for people who have been harshly treated in the past. He also looks for people who can prove that the witnesses who testify against his clients were lying. However, his most significant break comes when Ralph, who wants to make amends, contacts him, saying that law enforcers threatened him to lie. Other healthcare workers and inmates confirm Ralph’s testimony. The recordings of the police officers threatening Ralph further prove Walter’s innocence.

After what seemed like an eternity, Walter was acquitted. It was a big deal for the accused, Stevenson, and the community. An accurate depiction of humanity at its best.

9 The Pursuit of Happyness

“You got a dream; you have to protect it.” Anyone who has watched The Pursuit of Happyness, which stars the incredible Will Smith (Chris Gardner), understands this phrase well. After being evicted from their house, Chris and his son have nowhere to stay. They must now survive on other people’s grace, which, to be honest, very little is forthcoming. The going gets more challenging when Chris realizes that an internship job he had found at a prestigious brokerage firm had no pay, yet he urgently needed money. From living in shelters to watching his son suffer and enduring many hardships, Chris was determined to “change the narrative.”

The story of Chris’s mother and sister is not happy either. They had to endure the wrath of an abusive stepfather. Even though his mother was educated, making it in a male-dominated, impoverished, and discriminatory community didn’t help her quest for success. Aside from relationships, work, and education, Chris’s story is about motivation, self-belief, and, more importantly, the depiction that other people do not have to go through tough times just because we did.

As the movie continues, Chris finally makes it as and opens his own brokerage firm. However, the moral of the story lies in how Chris overturned his situation and became “a better person.” He vowed never to mistreat women and took great care of his child. If that doesn’t restore your faith in humanity, the next movie in line will.

8 Forrest Gump

“Stupid is as stupid does.” Remember this quote from the movie Forrest Gump? As Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks gives an Oscar-winning performance that shows the life of a man with a few mental delays who achieves everything. From teaching Elvis Presley how to dance to becoming a football star and meeting John F. Kennedy, Forrest Gump has seen it all.

However, the movie’s more captivating because he never forgot his childhood sweetheart, Jenny. She was there when the times were tough, and Gump ensured she was there during the sunny days too. Gump’s story indicates that humanity still exists and some good people are left in the world.

7 Titanic

Almost everyone has heard the story of the great ship Titanic that sunk off the coast of Newfoundland in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg. Of the 2,240 people on board, about 1,500 lost their lives on that fateful day. Different opinions have been raised, and people have taken different stands on the occurrences of that day.

However, today, we focus on one character, Jack, who the legendary Leonardo DiCaprio plays. He single-handedly showed the world that humanity still exists when he chose to sink rather than board the same floating wreckage as Rose (Kate Winslet). Based on the previous events of that day, Jack could have easily decided to board the seemingly floating wreckage with Rose—if they die, they die. Instead, he let Rose board as his body lay mostly in the water. Due to Jack’s selflessness, Rose survived the ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

While Jack and Rose were fictional characters in the film version of the sinking of the Titanic, some of the characters were based on actual people. One of the most notable was Margaret Brown (portrayed by Kathy Bates). This American socialite and philanthropist kept those on her lifeboat motivated and busy until they were rescued. Nicknamed the Unsinkable Molly Brown, she later became the first woman to run for the U.S. Congress in 1914 and organized the Colorado chapter of the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

Regardless of real or fictional characters, watching this movie still gets many people emotional, and deservingly so.

6 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood features the transformative spiritual practices of Fred Rogers, who has inspired many. One of his most significant and notable achievements is when he challenged Lloyd Vogel, a cynical investigative journalist tasked with profiling him. From the start, the journalist approaches Mr. Rogers with a lot of skepticism. He does not believe a human being can be as virtuous as Mr. Rogers had portrayed himself.

However, as the interview continues, Vogel’s jaded outlook on life is taken away by Mr. Rogers without much effort. If anything, he only did so through empathy, decency, and kindness. Eventually, Vogel brings himself to reconcile with his past.

5 22 July

22 July might be a controversial one, but hear me out. It’s true; at the back of a terrorist attack, finding shreds of acts of humanity can be challenging. However, the film 22 July, based on a true story in 2011, how a teenage girl fights for survival and tries to locate her younger sister is very encouraging.

For those who haven’t watched the movie, here is a quick overview: On July 22, 2011, Norway was hit by two terrorist attacks, one at a summer camp in Utoya, a small island in the country. A heavily-armed 32-year-old man dressed as a police officer appeared in the summer camp and started killing people indiscriminately. The terrorist injured hundreds and killed sixty-nine kids.

However, aside from all the negativity and the effects of the massacre, the story of an 18-year-old, Kaja, stood out for her acts of bravery and depiction of love in one of the harshest environments.

4 Dallas Buyers Club

Dallas Buyers Club is a movie that follows the life of Ron Woodroof (played by Mathew McConaughey), a gay and HIV-positive man from Texas. The revelation that he had contracted the disease at a time when there was a lot of stigma and no major scientific breakthroughs, Ron was stunned for some time. He was given 30 days to live, a number he was dedicated to surpassing.

First, he inquired why some drugs that promised to help people living with AIDS weren’t approved yet. Frustrated by the slow efforts, Ron takes it to himself to go to the neighboring country and smuggle the drugs to help other patients. Outside his gay community, Ron found a confidant in Rayon (played by Jared Leto), a fellow AIDS patient. Together, they sell the smuggled drugs to the ever-growing number of people living with the disease. Ron’s story is a true depiction of humanity at its best.

3 Thirteen Lives

This film tells the story of 12 kids with their soccer coach trapped in a cave following heavy rains. The incident happened in Thailand in 2018 after a group of soccer lovers left for the caves for meditation and further coaching. While going about their business, it started raining heavily. Before they knew it, water had filled the now impenetrable cave. It wasn’t long before the kids’ parents began wondering where their loved ones were. True to their fears, they figured the unimaginable had happened.

Thai families, farmers, the government, and international volunteers were all in solidarity. The common goal was to look for ways to rescue the boys regardless of whatever it took and what their realistic chances were. For about two weeks, the Tham Luang Nang Non-Cave system in Chiang Rai Province became the center of the world’s attention.

Fortunately, after intense deliberations and efforts, all the boys and their coach were rescued from the cave. It was miraculous! The kids stayed for over 11 days in the cave without food but still came out alive. That is not an easy phenomenon even for a grown adult to achieve. More importantly, the unity and willingness to help that people showed during this tragedy show that there is still some shred of humanity left in this world.

2 The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

Malawi’s people were starving and perishing in poverty, so they needed a savior. They found one. Just not from the source anyone could have predicted. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is a movie based on a true story that will leave anyone believing that humanity still exists. Played by Maxwell Simba, William Kamkwamba was born in Mastilla Village, outside of Kasungu, Malawi, at a time when death didn’t scare the living.

When he was 13, Kamkwamba was forced out of high school due to a lack of school fees. However, the sight of his people suffering to the extent of turning against each other didn’t amuse Kamkwamba. He took it upon himself to “harness the wind” and bring water to his people.

Of course, his idea sounded crazy initially, and his immediate opponent was his father. Kamkwamba’s bravery, determination, and belief saved the village from perishing. An indication that if we commit to greater things, we can help ourselves and those around us, regardless of the challenges.

1 Hotel Rwanda

Have you watched Hotel Rwanda yet? If not, you should. In 1994, Rwanda witnessed what was probably the continent’s biggest genocide. While many atrocities took place, we can look back and thank some people who stood their ground and did what was right despite everything going on.

Hotel Rwanda is a movie based on the true occurrences of the Rwanda genocide that pitted two tribes against each other: Tutsis and Hutus. Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle), a Hutu married to a Tutsi wife (Sophie Okonedo), finds himself in the heart of the violence. He manages the Hotel Des Mille Collines, which became a target because it hosted Tutsi refugees subject to the attacks. His efforts to protect humanity are tear-jerking. Of course, other people tried to help, too, but Paul’s story stands out.

Some people go beyond the call of duty to make the world a better place. These generous spirits make incredible sacrifices to help others, thinking nothing of their own interests. From unpaid volunteers to everyday heroes, many within our local communities play a silent, yet indispensable, role in keeping the cogs of society turning. These unsung heroes serve meals in soup kitchens, raise money for charitable causes, and offer support to schools and hospitals.

The 24-hour news cycle has a tendency to focus on dramatic, headline-grabbing stories. Oftentimes, this means a lot of Good Samaritans do not get the recognition they deserve. So, with that in mind, let’s focus on a few heartwarming acts that will restore your faith in humanity.

10 Heartwarming Stories Of Last Wishes Being Fulfilled

10 The 70-Year-Old Who Sailed the Ocean

On February 6, Frank Rothwell completed a staggering 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The 70-year-old grandfather organized the journey to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK, after his brother-in-law was diagnosed with the condition. His JustGiving page attracted considerable attention, raking in an impressive $1.5 million. Frank faced a number of ordeals aboard his small vessel, the aptly-named Never Too Old. He was forced to contend with choppy waters, a broken oar, and hours of isolation. Making matters worse, he also received news that his brother-in-law, Roger, had passed away.

Against all odds, Frank pressed forward and made it to the finish line. “Having received hundreds of messages from people who, like me, have witnessed the heartbreak of dementia, I am proud to have raised such an incredible amount in honor of Roger, and everyone else who has experienced the devastation it causes.”

Frank started the row – known as the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge – back in December last year. The annual event kicks off in the Canary Islands and ends in Antigua and Barbuda, with participants battling 20-foot waves, sleep deprivation, and salt sores. Rothwell took 56 days to complete the challenge, meaning he is now the oldest person to make the crossing completely unassisted. “You’re never too old,” Frank reminded his loyal supporters.

9 Giving Kids a Place to Sleep

Eight years ago, an Idaho man started looking at ways to help his community over the festive season. While hosting a Church event, Luke Mickelson discovered that one underprivileged family couldn’t even afford to buy beds for their children. The father of three decided to get members of his local youth group engaged in the local community by building the bed as a team. Using his daughter’s bunk bed as a template, Luke set to work. He then started making a second bed out of the leftover wood, recruiting his wife and children to help with the build.

The family made their first delivery over the Christmas holidays – a decision that would change their lives forever. The Mickelsons gave the bed to a single mother who was struggling to put food on the table. The woman had only just found a place to live following a period of homelessness, and her six-year-old daughter had never slept in a real bed before. “She showed us her room where we put the bed and there was nothing more in it except for a few beat-up toys and clothes piled in a corner where she slept,” Luke explained. “I was shocked. She was so happy and excited and couldn’t quit hugging it.”

Since that day, Luke has made it his life’s mission to give every child a place to sleep at night. In 2012, he launched a bed-making charity from his own garage. His non-profit, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, has gone from strength to strength, with over 130 trained chapters dotted across the globe. Luke’s organization has now delivered 60,000 beds worldwide, helping those affected by poverty, domestic violence, and natural disasters.

The 43-year-old has sacrificed much in the pursuit of his ideals. He has since quit his job as an executive at a local water treatment facility, taking a massive pay cut to focus on his charity work. Although Luke’s salary has been slashed in half, he says he couldn’t be happier. His mantra is simple: “No kid is going to sleep on the floor in my town.”

8 The Rescue Dog Who Paid it Forward

A rescue dog recently saved her owner, Brian Myers, after he experienced a medical emergency at his home in New Jersey. The 59-year-old collapsed in the corner of his room after suffering a stroke. His loyal companion, a German shepherd named Sadie, sprung into action. “She came to my side and she lied down next to me, licking my face to keep me alert,” Brian said. He then held onto Sadie’s collar as she pulled him towards the telephone. “I don’t know how she knew to do it.”

Sadie’s intervention gave her owner the opportunity to call 911. Emergency medical assistance quickly arrived on scene and took Brian to the hospital. He is now recuperating at home, with Sadie by his side, following a stint at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation.

Brian found Sadie at the Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge in Oakland. Although the 6-year-old pup was initially anxious around the company of men, she soon grew fond of Brian’s cheerful nature. Now that Brian is on disability, one of his main priorities is looking after Sadie. But help was at hand. After learning of the Jersey man’s plight, the rescue shelter is now seeking donations to cover the cost of Sadie’s veterinary bills.

7 The Boy Who Saved his Family from Poisoning

Just before midnight on February 4, Michael Martinez heard a loud beeping noise coming from downstairs. The 7-year-old knew he had to alert his parents to the commotion. Martinez, who has limited mobility owing to his cerebral palsy, was forced to slowly slide along the floor to his parents’ bedroom. After getting over the rude awakening, his mother and father went to check out the noise. The couple initially assumed it was just a smoke detector that needed replacement batteries. They were stunned when it turned out to be a carbon monoxide detector.

The family quickly opened all of the windows and rushed outside. At the time of the alarm, six other people were sound asleep in the house: Michael’s parents, aunt, and three cousins. Without his timely intervention, it is possible the entire family would have died in their sleep.

Carbon monoxide is formed by the incomplete combustion of certain fuels, including oil, gas, and coal. It can result from faulty household appliances (cookers, boilers, etc.), poorly ventilated households, or blocked chimneys. In this instance, investigators believe the leak originated from the family’s stove. Carbon monoxide binds to the oxygen-carrying pigment of red blood cells, thereby reducing the bloodstream’s ability to transport oxygen around the body. Exposure to the odorless gas can kill within mere hours.

Various members of the Martinez household were already starting to experience the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning as they fled the home, including nausea and chest pain. Michael’s mother, Angie, believes her son is a hero. “If it wasn’t for him, we probably never would have woken up,” she explained.

6 Haihuwa Lafiya Saves a Village

The Nigerian state of Jigawa is currently going through great economic hardship, a situation that has endangered the lives of many pregnant women. Limited access to healthcare has resulted in high levels of infant mortality. Malnutrition is widespread. And the road network has fallen into disrepair, making hospital trips a perilous ordeal.

For years, a small village called Bardo has been without any proper means of emergency transportation. And with the nearest hospital over 18 miles away, childbirth comes with significant risks. Eighteen pregnant villagers died in the space of just two years. Halima Adamu decided enough was enough, after seeing so many of her friends losing their unborn children. She set aside funds from a government allowance scheme to buy the village its own emergency car. The vehicle, dubbed Haihuwa Lafiya (Safe Motherhood), has already benefited hundreds of villagers.

News of Bardo’s actions soon hit the headlines, prompting the government to launch a review into the transport crisis. Jigawa’s leaders have since put in place a private fleet of cars to transport pregnant women to and from hospital. Meanwhile, a local businessman, Nasiru Danu, has donated a vehicle to help with the effort, along with money to pay for replacement tires and fuel.

5 The Dolphin Ambulance Charity

The Massachusetts coast is a hotspot for dolphin and whale strandings. Every year, hundreds of dolphins end up on the beaches around Cape Cod. It’s not unusual, then, to see a crack team of dolphin rescuers running down the beaches, armed with specialist medical equipment and giant stretchers. When a member of the public reports a stranding, the IFAW’s Marine Mammal Rescue team is usually the first to arrive on scene. It used to be that most of the stranded dolphins were beyond saving. Now, with advances in tech and treatment, the release rate has soared from 15 percent to around 80 percent.

Saving stranded dolphins is a race against time. Stress, sun burn, and dehydration can trigger a muscle-wasting condition known as capture myopathy syndrome. The creature’s fragile heart is often one of the first muscles to fail. After the rescue team arrives, the dolphin is stretchered onto an awaiting ambulance. The unit is stocked with ultrasound equipment, intravenous drips, and various testing facilities. Here, the team monitors the patient’s heart rate and tries to keep them hydrated. Blood analysis is then used to search for signs of infection or organ damage. As dolphins use echolocation to help navigate their surroundings, the team must also test the dolphin’s sense of “hearing.”

The charity has saved thousands of dolphins since its founding. Back in August 2020, the crew responded to a mass 45-dolphin stranding event. “[It] was the first time my jaw physically dropped when manning the hotline,” explained one of the attending technicians. Volunteers poured onto the beaches to keep the creatures alive, making sure to keep their blowholes clear of the rising water. A dozen of the most critically ill dolphins were hauled away into ambulances, while the rest were coaxed back into deeper waters. Astonishingly, after hours of intense work, all but four of the dolphins survived.

4 Turning a Furniture Store into a Giant Shelter

Jim McIngvale, also known as “Mattress Mack,” is well known for his charitable deeds. In 2017, the Texas legend used his furniture store to shelter the victims of Hurricane Harvey. He also dispatched delivery trucks to rescue residents stranded in the flood waters, before giving them food, water, and a place to sleep. When Tropical Storm Imelda hit, dumping over 40 inches of water in many parts of the state, the businessman opened his doors once again. His other achievements include funding a mobile stroke unit, organizing a 6,000-meal banquet for residents on Thanksgiving Day, and donating pieces of furniture to local schools.

Mack’s incredible generosity was also on full display in the aftermath of Winter Storm Uri. An intense blizzard from the North Pole recently took the state by surprise, taking down powerlines and crippling hundreds of generators. Suddenly, millions of residents found themselves with no heating, electricity, or water. A statewide emergency was declared, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas introduced rolling blackouts to ration the supply of electricity.

Mattress Mack responded to the catastrophe with his trademark kindness, opening all of his stores across the Houston area and ordering truck loads of food. To keep the lights on, he purchased 10,000 gallons of diesel to power his stores’ backup generators. Volunteers worked around the clock to serve meals and entertain children. The Texas tycoon, who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, explained his selfless actions: “[W]hat we can’t afford is to cause these people to lose hope, we got to give them hope.”

3 Transforming the Beach from Hell

As a young boy, Afroz Shah would spend hours playing on Versova Beach in northern Mumbai. But as the years rolled on, the entire area became a dumping ground for refuse. Plastic waste washed ashore, covering the sandy shoreline in mountains of bags, bottles, and clothing. In 2015, Shah started spending his weekends picking up the trash by hand. The 34-year-old lawyer’s deeds did not go unnoticed, and he was soon joined by an army of fellow environmentalists.

Now, after more than 200 weekends of painstaking work, the beach is completely trash-free. It is estimated that Shah has inspired more than 200,000 people to join his cause, cleaning beaches not just in India but around the world. The ambitious cleanup operation has seen the removal of over 20 million kilograms of waste from Versova Beach alone. Wildlife has now returned to the area, including nests of baby turtles.

Shah has spread his message around the world, sprucing up beaches in America, Japan, Norway, and Malta. “See, the idea is to go clean and provoke others to do the same, [because] I’m not going to be there permanently,” he explains. In 2016, the UN Environment Programme handed Shah the prestigious Champions of the Earth award.

2 The Sanitation Workers Who Thwarted a Kidnapping

On February 7, a 10-year-old girl disappeared from a relative’s home in New Iberia, Louisiana. According to witnesses, the youngster was last seen getting into a silver Nissan Altima. The local police department was quick to react, issuing an Amber Alert and providing details of the vehicle. Fortunately, two sanitation workers were paying close attention to the news. On their regular pickup route, workers with the Pelican Waste & Debris company spotted a vehicle conspicuously parked in the middle of a field. “I didn’t second guess it,” explained Dion Merrick. “I said, ‘for that car to be parked in this location, and it matches the description on the Amber Alert, something is not right.’”

With that, the two used their garbage truck to block the driver’s escape. They then called the police and, within mere minutes, the vehicle was surrounded by officers. The driver was hauled from the car and handcuffed. As the girl was taken away to undergo medical examination, she thanked her rescuers for their heroic efforts. The sanitation workers have since received praise from the entire community, including the victim’s father.

It turns out the suspect, Michael Sereal, was a family acquaintance. The 33-year-old is now charged with aggravated kidnapping. He is also accused of not registering as a sex offender. In 2006, the 16th Judicial District Court sentenced Sereal to hard labor for carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

1 Planting a Food Forest Full of Free Food

In 2006, Ruby and Willie Morgan sold their farm in southeast Atlanta to a building developer. While the plot was initially earmarked for the construction of a townhouse complex, the 2008 recession quashed these plans. Eight years on, the place was overrun with several invasive species of plant life, including English vines and Chinese privet. The city took control and restored the land to its former glory.

Over the years, Ruby and Willie would leave spare fruit and vegetables out for their neighbors. City officials took inspiration from the couple’s giving attitude, working with volunteers to plant a community food forest and orchard. After years of hard work, the garden is now teeming with life. Residents are free to pick what they need, including cucumbers, watermelons, tomatoes and peppers. The orchard also contains a variety of nut trees, fruit trees, berry bushes, and herbs.

Atlanta officials funded the initiative using a grant from the U.S. Forest Service. The goal is to reduce food poverty in the area, ensuring as many Atlantans have access to fresh produce as possible. The area was once classified as a “food desert,” meaning local residents had limited access to affordable fruit and vegetables. Carla Smith, one of the councilors who oversaw the project’s ordinance, recently spoke about what the forest means to the community: “More than just getting food there, and maybe helping with the food-desert situation, it’s actually a place where people are making friends.”

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