Thanks to an old, discarded coffee machine, Lisette and Sanele, the recycler, had the fortune of crossing paths. But this was not any friendship. For Sanele, it meant having someone to believe in him and in turn, inspire him to get off the streets—which he did! All the feels:

Johannesburg, South Africa (07 March 2024) — For Sanele Tolashe, a fortuitous friendship with Lisette Datnow did not just mean having a new person to call a friend. Sanele credits Lisette as the reason his life changed, and the reason he is no longer a street recycler.

Sanele and Lisette met thanks to an old coffee machine that Lisette’s son Michael had discarded back in 2020’s early lockdown.

“Somehow it was fortuitous that I saw [Sanele] pick the machine up and he said he was going to have coffee every morning like normal people,” Lisette recalls.

Every Tuesday, Lisette, Sanele and his late friend Lucky would chat when they came by to recycle items. Lisette began helping with cardboard collections from her office.

When the community worked on an upgrade project across the road, Sanele was in on the helpful action. This led to Lisette and her friends collecting new T-shirts, industrial safety boots and gloves for him, and at the handover, he and his friends and Lisette and her friends all sat in the park and talked. People from completely different worlds, weaved together with kindness and respect.

“These were people who were down on their luck, but good, decent people,” says Lisette. 

The friendship continued from there, and Lisette learned more about Sanele’s life, slowly becoming more than a friend, but someone who encouraged him with unwavering determination.

Sanele had a good life growing up in Carletonville but shares that things changed after his father and mother died. Despite going to school, he wasn’t able to finish his diploma due to financial reasons. After he found work, things changed again when the company closed. This led him to recycling, the streets and eventually, to ‘Miss Liz” as he affectionately calls Lisette.

“That’s when my life changed, because she saw me as a person with potential to change my life around and by that she always encouraged [me] to never give up and always hope for the better,” says Sanele. 

He adds that after spending time with her, he became inspired to get off the streets.

“I packed my things and told myself I’m not gonna live the rest of my life living in the streets.”

Sanele moved in with one of his brothers and got a job as a cashier—the beginning of many more moments he is proud of.

“I was delighted and have followed his progress since,” Lisette shared, adding that they are still very mouch in touch. 

Lisette was key in rallying for Sanele to further his studies (the same momentum Liz had shown before for Sandisiwe who needed spectacles for her studies). Despite the fundraising not panning out, Sanele is now happily working at a construction company.

“I’m grateful to have met Miss Liz because without her, maybe I would still be living in the streets eating unhealthy food from the bins. That’s why I love her has my mother.” 

Lisette’s message to others is to show up with kindness, avoid being presumptuous about others’ circumstances and help where you can—even if it’s striking up a conversation or giving a recycler a colourful bin so the sorting process is easier.

“Only in South Africa can you get this type of friendship. To ask people to “BE KIND” and treat everyone with respect. You don’t know their story or their struggles. Recyclers are trying to make an honest living…if everyone can just be kind, this world would be a better place.”—Lisette Datnow. 

Sources: GTG Interview 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post How a Fortuitous Friendship Helped Change Sanele the Recycler’s Life  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

After a 19-year-old stunt biker went to collect takeout, he suffered a terrible accident that fractured many bones in his face. This could’ve left him with permanent damage for the rest of his life if it wasn’t for a community of Good Samaritans who made his urgent surgery possible in the nick of time!

Vereeniging, South Africa (06 March 2024) — Aidan Roos, a 19-year-old from Three Rivers, Vereeniging, and a promising stunt biker with aspirations to showcase his skills in China, suffered a life-altering accident last month.

A seemingly routine outing for takeout took a disastrous turn when he slipped on a wet floor, and his face collided with a balustrade, causing severe facial injuries that abruptly halted his dreams.

But, in an incredible turn for Aidan and his family, his broader community came together just in time to help Aidan get the urgent surgery he needs; setting him on the road to both recovery and his dreams.

A series of initial misfortunes led to Aidan being unable to get his treatment sooner. Initially, he was sent home by the hospital as they were unable to proceed with the operation due to swelling. This led to medical aid opting not to cover his plight as they only cover up to 24 hours after a trauma, according to his Aunt Lynette Smith.

Everything changed for Aidan after that. His mom, Roeline Botha expressed that it has “brought  his bright future to a standstill.”

While his mom tried other means to raise funds, Aunt Lynette took to share Aidan’s story and create a crowdfunding campaign dubbed ‘Aidan needs surgery’ on 13 February.

“We urgently need to raise R100 000 for Aidan to have surgery on his face, because the surgery needs to be done by no later than 19 February, otherwise he will be left with permanent damage for the rest of his life,” Lynette wrote.

In timing that can only be described as miraculous, funds poured in in the thousands and the initial target was met!

Thanks to this mind-blowing display of community kindness, Aidan was able to receive surgery to address the fractures in his facial bones. Considering that his face was broken in five places, this marked a pivotal moment in his journey to recovery.

With follow-up scans, MRIs, and aftercare afoot, the Good Samaritan community is still rallying for Aidan. R119,000 has been raised toward the fundraising target of R160,000, and hopes are incredibly high that the young stunt biker will have his life back soon.

Aidan’s mother, Roeline, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, “From the bottom of my heart, I just want to thank everyone for their generosity, love, and support, and most of all, for everyone’s prayers.” The funds raised have already made a significant impact, securing Aidan’s chance at a healthy, normal life.

You can help Aidan and his family conquer the rest of the target via BackaBuddy!

Sources: Supplied; Zane Groenewald

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Community Make Urgent Surgery Possible for Young Stunt Biker! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

A Grade 9 Kingswood College pupil snapped a photo in Port Alfred that’s left South Africans in awe. The heartwarming part? People loved it so much they are encouraging her to enter it into competitions!

Port Alfred, South Africa (06 March 2024) — A Grade 9 Kingswood College pupil has left South Africans in awe after she captured Mother Nature at her finest in the Eastern Cape’s Port Alfred.

Shared by her school, Siré Schoncken’s photo captures a bolt of lightning, rolling waves and a looming grey cloud on a deserted part of the beach.

Beyond the breathtaking photo, there’s heart to this story in just how encouraging South Africans were in their responses to the budding photographer’s moment in the lightning light. On social media, comments ranged from backing Siré to enter her work into a competition all the way to nods of agreement that this student has a future in photography.

Siré’s mom Desica shared that her daughter is “beyond excited about the reaction of her photo.”

Captured on a Samsung phone camera, locals can’t wait to see what this budding photographer might be capable of with professional gear.

In any creative field (especially for young creatives), encouragement can be the difference between giving your talents a go or pushing them to the side. And seeing how many strangers were so kind to a young talent made our hearts very warm today.

Sources: Kingswood College

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Grade 9 Snaps Mother Nature in Port Alfred; Photo Leaves Locals in Awe! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When an elderly tourist from the Netherlands was about to fly home, the swelling in his hand couldn’t be ignored. After having to disembark, he found himself in a city full of strangers and completely reliant on the kindness of others. Thanks to two very special South Africans, he got all the help he needed!

Johannesburg, South Africa (06 March 2024) — What was meant to be a simple trip back to the Netherlands turned into a series of complicated events for one Abraham van Roijen, an elderly tourist in his late 80s, who was visiting South Africa, last December.

When it came time for his visit to end, Abraham started to notice that something wasn’t exactly right with his left hand.

Swollen and in pain, the elderly tourist figured that he would sort it out when he got back to the Netherlands. However, a doctor aboard his flight advised Abraham not to fly with a hand that swollen, and encouraged him to get off the plane.

Without family or friends anywhere near OR Tambo, Abraham became completely reliant on the kindness of South Africans. In the early hours of the morning as his plane flew overhead, Abraham checked into a hotel near the airport, but couldn’t sleep due to to the pain of his hand.

At the reception desk, he met the incredibly compassionate Jani Ligthelm, the hotel’s general manager. Jani kindly helped him contact a family member from her phone as his baggage, containing his phone, was still with the airline. With his niece, Mariska Spoonmaker, worried about the state of his hand and unable to do anything from the Eastern Cape, Abraham’s ‘first responders’ became Jani and Andrew Nkosizile Mtshali – a diligent taxi driver.

Abraham was determined to get on the next flight, so Jani made the choice to trust the elderly tourist, but only under the caring eyes of Andrew the taxi driver, who became something of a knight in shining armour for Abraham.

Andrew made sure Abraham got to the airport safely. When the airline counter turned out to be closed, he was the one to insist on taking Abraham to a medical centre in Kempton Park.

Andrew contacted Abraham’s son Bram to ensure Abraham could chat with his son during the hospital’s visiting hours. The situation with his hand turned out to be urgent, and without Andrew offering his phone and time, Abraham wouldn’t have been able to keep his family in the loop or sort out his medical insurance.

After two medical procedures were underway, Andrew even made sure Bram was updated throughout the process with photos.

Eventually, with Abraham finally on the road to recovery, Bram was able to fly in to assist his father. Andrew, of course, was waiting in the wings to unite them both and drove Bram from the airport to be with his dad during the scary time.

As it turned out, Abraham may have been bitten by a spider, which could’ve led to terrible consequences had Abraham’s new South African friends not stepped in to help. Several days later, the tourist made it back to the Netherlands, where doctors would look after him.

Freelance journalist and niece Mariska Spoonmaker shared this story of the small, but incredibly impactful kindness with Good Things Guy.

“I look back in gratitude at Jani and Andrew – two caring people who went way further than the extra mile to assist an 87-year-old in need. Everything could have gone so wrong. But it didn’t. Because two South Africans cared enough to help. Nkosi.”

Sources: Mariska Spoormaker

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post South Africans Help Elderly Tourist Through Medical Mayhem  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In a heartwarming tale of kindness and community, Hester Hoffmann went above and beyond to make sure that a man, new to the streets, wouldn’t have to call them home for long:

Melville, South Africa (04 March 2024) — One Saturday morning, Hester Hoffmann noticed a man wandering around a parking area in Melville. At first, she didn’t think much of his wondering and assumed he was waiting for someone. But after spotting him looking somewhat displaced a few more times, she decided to approach him. At the time, she had no idea how important that decision to go up to him would be.

Hester discovered that his name was Chris Swartz, an electrician who had found himself calling the streets home for the past few days after he had “lost everything”, as she shared.

Chris had already been through a lot in those days; including being attacked. The kind security guard had helped him then, and now it was Hester’s turn.

Reaching out to the I Love Melville community group, Hester began sharing Chris’s plight and hopes for his larger community to help him get back on his feet again.

Hester’s biggest concern was getting Chris to shelter given his condition as a diabetic and a heart condition.

Determined, she met with Chris often, organised a meeting to get him into a shelter, and rallied the community to help however they could!

The only thing standing in the way of Chris’s stay at Ons Oord was the R1,500 minimum amount. To which Hester dealt with the matter like a champion:

“At that stage [of Chris’s meeting at the shelter] I went back in and gate crashed the meeting and said to the Dominee, “Listen, I can’t commit to a R1500 pm or sign a debit order, but I can tell you that I WILL find 20 people in Melville who will be prepared to give R75 each month. Please can you help him?”

Brilliantly, the Melville community (who have been on a roll of good news recently) came together to help pay for Chris’s stay at Ons Oord!

Thanks to their pledges, Chris was accepted into Ons Oord which led to many happy tears in Melville, especially from Hester.

With Chris safe and sound at a place where he can live and work with others so long as his minimum stay fee is looked after, he now faces a new trajectory of hope.

Their story reminds us of just how powerful paying attention to someone can be, and it’s that light that can guide them home.

Sources: Submission; Hester Hoffmann

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post How Determined Hester Made Sure Chris Wouldn’t Have to Call the Streets Home appeared first on Good Things Guy.

In incredible international news, a widow who was left a fortune has decided to donate $1 billion dollars to fund medical students’ tuition! Full story:

New York City, USA (29 February 2024) — It’s not every day that a widow receives a billionaire’s fortune. But it’s even rarer to learn that she would make the decision to donate $1 billion (over 19 billion rand) to fund medical students’ tuition. Well, in a literal wealth of good news from New York City, this is exactly what happened thanks to Dr Ruth Gottesman.

Ruth Gottesman is the widow of David ‘Sandy’ Gottesman—a billionaire who made a big part of his fortune by investing in Bershire Hathaway Inc. It is believed that this saw him quietly reach a net worth of around $3 billion in his lifetime.

When David passed away, his wife of over seven decades was reportedly left with the stock David had and instructions.

“Do whatever you think is right with it,” the instructions said as per Forbes.

93-year-old Ruth got to thinking about what she could do and found the answer in her roots. Ruth is a former professor of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, based in New York City’s Bronx. Knowing the institution and its student’s challenges well; Ruth returned to her old professional stomping ground with a once-in-a-lifetime gift: a donation that would change the futures of students in a way that has never been seen before in the United States medical school history. Ruth decided to donate the $1 billion so that medical students would have their college tuition covered. Historically, tuition at the college will now be free; and no student will have to pay tuition costs in the future either! Not to mention, all spring tuition will be reimbursed, as the college shared.

“I am profoundly grateful to Dr. Gottesman for this historic and transformational gift. I believe we can change healthcare history when we recognize that access is the path to excellence. With this gift, Dr. Gottesman will fund excellence in perpetuity and secure our foundational mission of advancing human health,” said Philip O. Ozuah, M.D., Ph.D., President and CEO of Montefiore Einstein.

Dr Gottesman has only added to her legacy of impact with this gift. While she was working at Einstein’s Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Centre, she was a huge force in developing screening and help for children with learning problems. In the ’90s, she began the Adult Literacy Programme and continued her work in treating learning disabilities and, alongside David, created an institution for stem cell research.

Sources: Various (Linked Above)

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Professor Donates $1 Billion So Students’ Tuition Will Be Free! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

Young farm worker Sané Wilken got caught in a terrible accident whilst on the job. Now, her community are rallying together to help her grasp her dreams again with hopes of getting her a bionic arm:

Boshoff, South Africa (25 February 2024) — Sané Wilken, a passionate 18-year-old cattle farm worker from Boshoff, Free State, experienced a traumatic event on 25 January which profoundly altered her life’s trajectory.

While engaged in a routine task (pouring fertiliser into a motorised water tank) Sané’s thumb unexpectedly got caught and twisted in the bag she was using, leading to a catastrophic sequence of events.

Despite the immediate danger and her attempts to free herself, the machinery relentlessly twisted the bag around her thumb, eventually resulting in her losing her forearm.

While Sané says her life has been forever changed due to the traumatic incident, she is determined not to let her define her future. Showing remarkable strength of character, Sané told her mother, Corila, in the emergency room, “It’s only an arm. I’m still alive to speak to you, and this will not get me down.”

Since losing her arm, Sané is diligently working to adapt to her new circumstances. Her greatest challenges now stem from everyday tasks that she once performed effortlessly. Simple activities such as tying her hair in the morning, getting dressed, eating, and playing with her cherished dogs have become notably more difficult.

While doctors estimate that it could take 6 to 12 months for Sané’s arm to heal, her mother has initiated a crowdfunding campaign to purchase a bionic arm for her. This advanced prosthetic, equipped with sensors that interpret muscle and brain signals, is intended to help Sané grasp the confidence and dreams that have been pushed to the side.

But in a hopeful start, more than R83,000 has already been donated; each rand imperative to the young farmer’s future!

Having recently completed her agricultural education, Sané, who has dreamed of becoming the best farmer she could be since she was a little girl, is counting the days until she can return to the work that feeds her spirit, lovingly tending to the crops and cattle.

Reflecting on the accident, Sané says, “It was a freak accident. There was nothing anyone could’ve done differently. It’s no one’s fault. I’m not ashamed of my ‘stompie’ and will show anyone who wants to see my arm and tell my story.”

Thanking her donors, Sané says, “They have given me a second chance. I can’t say thank you enough for the kindness I have received. I’m taking life day by day now, but I know that one day soon, I will be able to live as I did before the accident.”

What a resilient young lady! The young farm worker and her dream to have a bionic arm can be supported here.

Sources: Supplied 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Community Rallies to Get Young Farm Worker a New Arm After Accident  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

When the Underdog SA Pitbull Rehab Centre sent out the call for building materials to the community to help their desperate situation to house more dogs, they were met with little support…until one woman and her family decided to give the underdogs an upper hand!

Pretoria, South Africa (19 February 2024)—The Underdogs SA Pitbull Rehabilitation Centre in Pretoria recently welcomed roughly 1300 to 1400 gifts worth as much as a dream coming true—bricks! While bricks as a gift might seem like an unconventional choice to the everyday Joe, for the pit bull champions hoping to house more pit bulls, these are essential building blocks for a heartwarming future that will help one of the most misunderstood breeds in need.

In December, Underdogs called out to the community and shared word of desperate plans to build more kennels. In 2023, the rehabilitation centre saw 107 intakes and 86 successful adoptions, but with limited kennel spaces and many people begging the facility to take in pit bulls despite the space issues, owner inspector Estelle Smith—a longtime pit bull champion—and her centre were under a lot of stress.

When little help had come forth in assisting with the building hopes and essential dreams, things were looking bleak. That was until Yolanda van der Merwe and her family stepped in to give the underdogs the upper hand on their situation.

Thanks to Yolanda and the van der Merwes, a healthy amount of bricks have made their way to the centre who shared their deep gratitude for her kindness.

“There was members of the public who promised to help us for we are in desperate need to build more kennels but nothing materialised,” the centre shared as to why Yolanda’s brick gifts meant so much. 

Other hopes Underdogs have are to organise cement, building sand, reinforcing wire, fencing, angle iron, square tubing, round bar, and roof sheeting, amongst others that Estelle would be happy to chat to any pit bull lovers about.

You can contact the underdogs at management@underdogs.co.za!

Meanwhile in other hopeful news for dogs, 5 dogs rescued from the Cambodian meat trade have finally landed safely in Cape Town where the journey to find them forever homes has commenced. Survivors and ambassadors of all the dogs who have suffered before them; their new chapter in the Mother City is not only their best option for the loving life they should’ve always had, but a reminder of the incredible people who did not give up on them.

Sources: Underdogs SA Pitbull Rehabilitation Centre 

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Family Donates Much-Needed Brick Gifts to Help Underdogs! appeared first on Good Things Guy.

How do we show love to our communities? We stop asking, and start doing! Here are a few simple but impactful ways to show love to your community during the month of love and well beyond:

South Africa (11 February 2024) — To show love to our communities is perhaps one of the greatest acts of love we have ever undertaken. And yet, it also happens to be the one act of love many pull back on.

Most of us have danced the dance of showing love to significant others in all the ways that warm hearts. In the best circumstances, bouquets of flowers call for the biggest hugs and long love letters can easily make a grown man cry with appreciation. And like any gift of effort, both the receiver and the giver feel extra special in the moment. We love romantic love as much as the next writer, but we also know that these are far from the only loving acts that we should embrace as long as we’re here.

As we all know, February is filled with an annual reason to show love to those we love. So, shouldn’t our communities fall part of that wish list?

Because we do love the public spaces in concrete jungles that bring us solace. And the oceans that bring us so much joy. Most of us also love the prospect of our future generation getting a real chance to be part of an incredible future for all of us. And we love the everyday heroes who actually do something about all that which we complain about.

To show love to your community, in whichever way that resonates with you, is to say I am part of this community because I believe in it. I see its hope. And its wonderful workings. It is to say, “I am South African, because I identify with more than just myself.”

Here are a few simple, but impactful ways to show love to your community during the month of love:

• Adopt a pavement to maintain or give a makeover to the spots you frequent (email info@betterbedfordview.org.za)
• Take a dog on a date  for Valentine’s Day to give animal heroes you appreciate a break
• Create a tiny library in your area for everyone to exchange books
• Host a cupcake party for the cancer warriors you know or want others to know about
• Support a food garden in an area close to your heart
• Join a Random Acts of Crochet Kindness group to make someone’s day, any day
• Or make your knitting count in other ways with these community projects
• Do something bold as a campaign fundraiser for a community cause that inspires you (Peet Botma is an amazing recent example!)
• Join regular environmental clean-ups or make your space beautiful by joining these initiatives 
• Gift a tree to someone you love which in turn will create a greener community
• Find a charity that touches your heart and spread the word about their missions loudly and proudly!

Sources: GTG

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Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:

Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.

The post Simple Ways to Show Love to Your Community  appeared first on Good Things Guy.

It’s not every day that you get a delicious meal and a first glance at your future best friend in the same sitting, but thanks to Massimo’s pizza adoption boxes, the best of both worlds continue to collide:

Hout Bay, South Africa (07 February 2024) — For animal and pizza lovers, Massimo’s pizza adoption boxes couldn’t be a more perfect pairing. Perhaps the only way for the pizzeria—whose delicious slices have been ranked among the world’s best pizza—to improve their servings, the special surprise on their takeaway boxes continues to win over hearts and tummies.

If you’ve ordered a takeaway from Massimo’s and are wondering how an adorable animal found its way onto your pizza box, here is the story behind it:

In 2021, Massimo’s (a longtime champion of community causes) launched a special campaign to assist DARG (Domestic Animal Rescue Group) to help spread the word about their animals who needed to find forever homes. Cleverly, the pizzeria decided to make the most of something almost everyone loves (good pizza) and convenience (takeaways).

They decided to place “Adopt Me” flyers on their takeaway boxes with the hopes of helping DARG with placing the pets.

Years later and our hearts are so warmed to know that the mission is still cooking!

The adoption snapshots feature photos of the floofs in need and information about them (like whether they are good with kids, their age and, of course, a little about their personalities) with hopes of helping DARG with placements. And since most people make better decisions when they’re full and happy, the project couldn’t be a perfect way to facilitate happy homes.

Beyond Massimo’s pizza adoption boxes, this spot has a track record of doing good for the sake of good. In 2015, they began a ‘pay-it-forward’ campaign so people could buy R10 ‘virtual’ slices of pizza, with every six slices affording one charity an entire pizza. When the business closed down during the pandemic, Massimo ensured that pizzas were donated to July 2020 fire victims. And last year, they launched another adoption-positive ‘loyalty card’ programme along with The Pelican in Hout Bay. This allowed customers who had adopted a dog from DARG, Border Collie Rescue Cape Town, TEARS or the Animal Welfare Society of SA to gift their new adopted friend free meals from either restaurant.

Sources: Massimo’s/GTG 

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