Secret Santa spreads kindness in Sister Lakes

Good News Notes: “A secret Santa is giving a little holiday cheer to people around the Sister Lakes area. She posts a picture to show where her gift will be hidden and anyone who recognizes the landmark can go to spot and pick up the gift for themselves or to give away. She didn’t want…

Police department’s act of kindness for lost woman will warm your heart

Good News Notes: “Police found her cold and hungry. They took her to get something to eat, contacted her family, then drove her halfway home to meet up with relatives on the turnpike. But their generosity didn’t stop there. Sombo found a car dealership that repaired and detailed Fennegan’s car at no charge. The job…

Tacoma ‘Giving Tree’ creates Christmas magic

Good News Notes: “Mark Sikas doesn’t have a Christmas tree in his house. Instead, outside his North Proctor home, he has what he calls the “Giving Tree.” The tree is a flowering cherry, but it works as well as an evergreen, Sikas says. For roughly the last 25 years, Sikas has lived in Tacoma’s North…

A Carrollton Church and its Christmas Eve gift-giving tradition

Good News Notes: “Tuesday night at a church in Carrollton was about more than just celebrating the gift that brings the congregation to church for a Christmas Eve service. It has also become a traditional moment for the church to offer gifts of its own. The Christmas Eve service at Freedom Church was standing room only,…

Volunteers give back with annual Christmas meals

 Good News Notes: “Most people spend Christmas in the comfort of their own home, but volunteers for Community Meals spent their day giving back. Wednesday, dozens of volunteers gathered at Trinity Lutheran Church in Traverse City, to make sure hundreds of people in northern Michigan had a warm meal and some Christmas cheer.” “We get…

Woman continues holiday tradition of giving back to children

Good News Notes: “One local woman does not plan to stop her holiday tradition anytime soon after she has served several families in the community with Christmas gifts for several years. Twenty-five years ago, Mary Ortega started Angel Mary’s Toy Drive at the  Crazy J’s Sports Bar. Since then, the holiday event has gotten bigger…

LPGA: Sandra Gal heals, helps others in need along the way

 Good News Notes: “There was a moment earlier this month in Miami when a young girl climbed into Sandra Gal’s lap and asked, ‘Can you just stay here forever?’ It was a moment that won’t leave Gal. A moment that points to the heart of what she’s trying to accomplish at the Sandra Gal Children’s…

Two Rescue Dogs Change Lives of Grateful Vietnam Veterans

Good News Notes: “Two Vietnam War veterans are having an extra special Christmas after being paired with two service dogs to help them cope with PTSD and day-to-day life. Larry Keating was 19 when he served in the army in Vietnam. Bill Thumm was 21. What they saw and experienced has haunted their lives. ‘I…