Nonprofit creating more sustainable Sioux Falls through composting

Good News Notes: “For those interested in composting food in Sioux Falls, there hasn’t been an opportunity to do so outside of their home. That is, until SoDak Compost came along. When Deirdre Appel moved to Sioux Falls last summer, she immediately began looking for ways to compost her food scraps while living in an apartment complex…

Simsbury mother founds nonprofit after losing son to overdose

Good News Notes: “Mother’s Day is just a few hours away and while many will spend the day celebrating their moms and other motherly figures. One local mom is making a change by channeling her grief into a nonprofit geared to helping those struggling with substance abuse after losing her eldest son. Lisa Gray is…

Pet food pantry: Free food for dogs and cats

Good News Notes: “Officials with the Iroquois County Animal Rescue said their Pet Food Pantry will be open on the second Sunday of every month. According to officials, there will be free cat food and dog food that are available for pet owners to pick up. County residents who are senior citizens, receiving unemployment compensation,…

Ritenour Food Pantry receives $56,000 donation from local dealership

Good News Notes: “Sunset Hills Subaru will donate to the Ritenour Co-Care Food Pantry. Sunset Hills Subaru General Manager Ryan Blankenship will present a $58,000 check Thursday, April 28 at 10 a.m. to the Pantry’s Board of Directors at the dealership showroom. “We don’t want anyone to ever go hungry,” Blankenship said. “Right now, it’s…

Colorado Springs nonprofit makes a big impact through iconic childhood toy

Good News Notes: “Despite the nationwide appeal of American Girl dolls, its hefty price tag makes it tough for some families to afford but that’s where the nonprofit organization, Madison’s Hope, Inc. comes in. The founder of the nonprofit organization, Shari Kovariks says her mission is to take donated American Girl dolls and refurbish them to give…

Churches, nonprofit plan affordable housing for downtown Holland

Good News Notes: “Two churches are working with a nonprofit to bring affordable housing to downtown Holland. “Holland has seen significant rent increases. We’re finding that it’s harder and harder for working class families to be able to find quality places for people to live,” Dwelling Place CEO Jeremy DeRoo said. If the project goes…

Nun in Congo overcomes blackouts with homemade hydroelectric plant

Good News Notes: “Sister Alphonsine Ciza spends most of her day in gum boots, white veil tucked under a builder’s hat, manning the micro-hydroelectric plant she built to overcome daily electricity cuts in her town of Miti in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. She works around the clock with a team of nuns and engineers,…

Plan to plant 100,000 hectares of new forest in Ireland

Good News Notes: “Semi-State forestry company Coillte, which manages Ireland’s State-owned woodlands, has launched a major new strategy to optimise the benefits from forestry. The company aims to massively expand carbon capture, forestry planting, biodiversity and recreational facilities between now and 2050. Coillte manages 440,000 hectares of forest in Ireland, amounting to 7% of the…