A warm and memorable Friendsgiving celebration brought together families from Santa Clara County’s support and advocacy programs at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, creating an atmosphere centered on unity, wellness and meaningful connection. Held on November 15, the event welcomed families participating in the Dependency Wellness Court and the Court Appointed Special Advocates program. It offered them a rare opportunity to share time together in a supportive setting designed to reduce s

Families across Franklin County opened their homes to shelter dogs during the Thanksgiving holiday, offering dozens of animals a temporary break from the stress of kennel life. The Franklin County Dog Shelter & Adoption Center saw an enthusiastic response to its annual holiday sleepover program, with people lining up before the shelter opened on Wednesday to pick out a dog to take home for several days. Staff said it was one of the most encouraging sights of the season, as kennel rows gre

A growing number of Texas families are finding it increasingly difficult to put food on the table as financial pressures continue to mount. Rising grocery prices, inflation, employment disruptions and reported delays in SNAP benefits have created an environment where many households are struggling to cover even basic needs. Nonprofits across North Texas have been working to bridge the gap, relying heavily on community support to meet the surge in demand for food assistance. Among th

The City of Austin has concluded a three-week initiative aimed at addressing homelessness through both cleanup operations and social outreach. The campaign, coordinated by the city’s Homeless Strategies and Operations (HSO) team, sought to connect unhoused residents with essential services while restoring public areas impacted by encampments. Over the course of the operation, more than 1.3 million pounds of debris were collected from nearly 700 sites across the city, marking one of Austin??

HOUSTON — This Veterans Day, restaurants and businesses across Houston are honoring service members with free meals, discounts, and special offers. From breakfast to dinner, veterans and active-duty personnel can enjoy a range of complimentary dishes and reduced-price dining experiences as a gesture of appreciation for their service to the nation. Texas Roadhouse is offering free meal vouchers to veterans and active-duty military on Tuesday, November 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at

The annual Veterans Day ceremony at the Dallas–Fort Worth National Cemetery, a long-standing tradition honoring American servicemen and women, has been canceled this year due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. The decision, described as deeply disappointing but unavoidable, has affected veterans’ families, volunteers, and community members who look forward to the heartfelt event each year. Every November, volunteers gather at the DFW National Cemetery to place thousands o

AUSTIN, Texas – The Austin community came together on October 26 for the 2025 Austin Kidney Walk, an event dedicated to raising awareness, support, and critical funding for people affected by kidney disease. The walk, which took place on a cool Saturday morning, drew hundreds of participants, including patients, family members, healthcare professionals, and living donors, all united by a shared commitment to fighting one of the nation’s most pervasive health conditions. Organize

Several animals were killed and two people were displaced after a structure fire broke out in Prospect Park, New Jersey, on Friday morning. Fire officials confirmed that the blaze, which originated in the rear section of a two-story home on Fairview Avenue, caused significant damage before being brought under control. According to Prospect Park Fire Chief Doug Struyk, firefighters were dispatched shortly before 9 a.m. to the residence located between North 16th and North 17th street

Santa Clara County is taking an innovative step to reduce food waste and at the same time support residents struggling with food insecurity. The county has rolled out a food recovery program that directly places commercial refrigerators stocked with fresh produce and ready-to-eat meals inside affordable housing developments. Residents can now access nutritious food right where they live without needing to travel long distances or rely on irregular food distribution events. The initi

Hours after thousands of Chicago residents filled the streets to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, a disturbing hate incident unfolded outside the office of 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez. Chicago police confirmed that a dead rat and a threatening handwritten note were discovered at his office on Sunday evening. The message, described as derogatory and anti-immigrant, referred to undocumented immigrants as “vermin,” sparking outrage and concern across the community.

Cape May police are investigating an act of vandalism that has left the community frustrated and saddened after a well-known and beloved boardwalk statue was damaged in the early hours of Sunday morning. The incident took place at the Ocean Putt mini golf course near the intersection of Jackson Street and Beach Avenue, a popular destination for families, tourists, and longtime residents. Authorities say the suspects were caught on camera around 4 a.m. when they climbed over a fence

Three firefighters in Colleyville, Texas, were injured on Wednesday evening while working to extinguish a blaze on Emerald Drive. According to officials, the call came in just before 5 p.m. in the 6100 block of the residential neighborhood. Emergency responders arrived quickly, but during the course of operations, three firefighters sustained injuries that required hospitalization. Authorities confirmed that none of the injuries are life threatening, and all th

A Chicago business owner is speaking out about the challenges she faces as crime and violence continue to impact her livelihood. Jackie Jackson, the owner of Fatburger in Chatham, has shared her story of struggle, resilience, and determination to keep her restaurant open while giving back to the South Side neighborhood she calls home. Jackson opened the Fatburger location at 825 E. 87th Street in November of last year. Since then, she has invested in extensive safety measures to pro

Families, retirees, and students in Los Gatos now have access to free groceries through a new community service that is aiming to reduce food insecurity in Santa Clara County. A refrigerated van, brightly painted and stocked with everything from fresh produce to packaged breakfast foods, is parked outside the Los Gatos Library twice a month as part of a mobile program known as the “park-it market.” The initiative, launched by West Valley Community Services, allows residents to pic

A Dallas church’s mission to support families in need faced a painful setback after vandals destroyed a van that had been donated to help fund the operations of its food pantry. The van, which could have generated thousands of dollars in support for food distribution, was demolished by two teenagers in a shocking act of vandalism that has left the Pleasant Grove community both saddened and concerned. The Inspire

Good News Bears (GNB), the beloved Livermore-based nonprofit that has been gifting comfort through teddy bears since 1996, has announced a major leadership transition. The all-volunteer charity, known for delivering “stuffed love” to people in need, has named longtime member and local teacher Lisa Kitzmann as its new Chairbear. Lisa, who has used teddy bears extensively in her classroom as reading buddies

In a powerful act of resilience and compassion, a 27-year-old man from North Texas completed a 100-mile run in less than 24 hours to raise money for families devastated by recent catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. Motivated by deep emotional ties to the region and the widespread destruction caused by the floods, Jack Stradinger set out with one goal: to bring hope and support to a community grappling with loss and tragedy. Without months of preparation, and despite a history

In Columbus, Ohio, the annual Red White and Boom celebration draws massive crowds eager to enjoy fireworks, food, and festive fun. While most attendees focus on the colorful spectacle in the sky, there’s an entire network of behind-the-scenes workers and volunteers who make the event possible. From sanitation crews to community outreach organizations, several teams come together each year to support the event in meaningful ways—often unnoticed by the thousands of spectators.

When Ali Shirkhodaei arrived in the United States from Iran in 2006, he had no idea how difficult life would be as a new immigrant, even with a molecular biology degree. At 28 years old, he faced a long and discouraging year of unemployment, struggling to land any job in a foreign land. But what he did know was that he wanted to build a life that reflected the kindness he grew up with in the streets of Tehran. Almost two decades later, that spirit continues to define his journey, now as the o