Colton Tazzara, 6, scampered across the driveway clutching his Nerf gun while out playing. His mom, Tara, was inside getting ready while his dad, Jeff, and 2-year-old brother, Cason, were packing the car to head to a family cookout.

Watching from several yards away was Bella, the family’s 11-year-old husky mix. Neither Colton nor Cason ever left the house without Bella tagging along, keeping a protective eye on her boys, barking if they wandered too near the street and patrolling their Torrington, Connecticut, property.

“Go tell your mom we’re ready,” Jeff told Cason, lowering the trunk.

Just then, Bella started barking — and not her usual bark. This bark was furious, sharp and very urgent!

Life

Her Dog Wouldn’t Let Her Sleep—and It Ended up Saving Her Life

Pam Wendtland loved her golden retriever, Murphy. But she never knew he would also be her hero — until the night torrential rains turned her yard into a lake and the water kept rising! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. “We’re not going anywhere — especially with the rain coming,” Pam Wendtland said […]

The moment Bella became a hero

A black bear had emerged from the woods, and it was lumbering straight toward Colton.

“Colton!” Jeff shouted.

Spotting the bear, the boy made a dash for the open garage. Jeff launched himself toward his boy…but Bella was faster.

In a flash, the husky rocketed across the yard. When the bear paused, Bella launched herself into the air with open jaws, clamping down with all her might on the dark creature’s haunch.

Jeff scooped Colton into his arms, his heart pounding. With his son safe, he shifted his attention to Bella. If the bear fights back, how am I going to save Bella? he worried.

But Bella’s fierce response left the bear confused. Instead of attacking, it backed away, bumping into Jeff’s boat before bolting back into the woods.

Life

Circle of Love: This Hero Dog Alerted His Family to a Fire and Saved Lives — And Then Students’ Donation Saved His Life

This pup's full-circle rescue story will touch your heart — and proves the loyalty of our four-legged friends

The security camera footage that proved everything

Bella gave a final bark as if to say, And don’t come back!

“I’m ready!” Tara announced, stepping into the garage, and when they told her what happened, she rolled her eyes.

“Surely you’re exaggerating,” she said.

“The bear wanted to eat me!” Colton insisted.

When Tara pulled up the security camera footage on her phone, her jaw dropped. “Dear God,” she murmured, contemplating what might have been.

“She is getting a lot of treats,” Jeff declared.

That night, Bella lay in her spot on Colton’s bed. Her family was safe. And so long as Bella was around, that’s how it was going to stay.

When Feylyn Lewis’s mother ended up unable to walk after a botched surgery, she found herself a caregiver at only 11 years old. The experience impacted her so much that she dedicated her life to helping other children with caring responsibilities find strength and hope. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

Drawing a deep breath, 11-year-old Feylyn Lewis folded her hands in the darkness as she did every night, praying for the one thing her heart ached for.

“God, please give my mom’s pain to me so she doesn’t have to go through this anymore,” she said.

But the next morning, her mother still couldn’t walk, winced with each move and needed Feylyn’s help bathing, dressing and taking her medications.

Comfort

Daughter Saves Mother’s Life With An Organ Transplant — Twice: “It Was A Miracle!”

Eileen Harlin had always been close to her mom, Julia. She couldn’t imagine life without her. So when Julia’s liver failed, Eileen donated part of her own. That was amazing enough. But the next year, Eileen stepped up again and gave her mom a kidney!

How a botched surgery turned an 11-year-old into a caregiver

The little girl’s spirit deflated, seeing nothing had changed. For whatever reason, her prayer went unanswered. This new, terrifying and unfathomable life of theirs was apparently here to stay.

Twenty-seven years ago, the world shattered for the Hendersonville, Tennessee, family. Feylyn’s single mother, Darline Lewis, was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease and underwent a routine spinal surgery. The procedure was botched, leaving her disabled.

With her mother unable to walk, drive or return to her career as a labor and delivery nurse, Feylyn’s 18-year-old brother, Ferrell, dropped out of college, moved home and worked to pay the mortgage.

Feylyn was then thrust into being the one in charge of her mother’s intimate care when she wasn’t at school.

As the years went by, Darline slowly regained the ability to walk, drive and tend to her basic needs again, but she still couldn’t return to work and had to live with Ferrell.

Seeing how it affected her and her brother, a passion stirred in Feylyn’s heart. Young caregivers need more support and hope, she realized. I need to find a way to help them!

From young caregiver to champion for children in crisis

In 2013, Feylyn moved from the United States to the United Kingdom to study under world-renowned young caregiver researcher Saul Becker, Ph.D.

She continued her mission, and eventually she graduated and moved back to Tennessee to care for her mother again, who had since suffered a stroke.

Today, Feylyn has a Master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and a Ph.D. in social work. She specializes in supporting the mental health of young caregivers, while serving as assistant dean of student affairs at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.

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Leading Tennessee’s First Support Group for Young Caregivers

She leads the first-ever support group in Tennessee for youth caregivers. She shares resources and information on her website, DrFeylynLewis.com, and impacts hundreds of young caregivers around the world.

“I never felt seen growing up, so it’s nice to see more resources for the child caregiver community,” one student wrote to her.

“I took care of my ailing grandparents when I was a teenager, and I also felt alone for so long. Thank you for your efforts!” wrote another.

As for Feylyn, she feels called to offer the help that she wished she had.

“We need to ensure that young caregivers have the support they need,” she says. “As for the young carers, speak up about the amazing contributions that you do. God has the power to transform any challenge into tremendous good!”

When Cathy Angel faced her darkest hours battling breast cancer during a painful divorce, she found solace through thoughtful cards and gifts from loved ones. Once in remission, she decided to pay that love forward and offer the same comfort to others who could use an angel of their own. Here, she shares her inspiring story of strength with Woman’s World and how her nonprofit Boxed By an Angel continues touching lives!

How Cathy Angel faced a double breast cancer diagnosis

In 2015, Cathy Angel was going through a painful divorce and struggling with depression and insomnia, so she went to see her doctor. While there, Cathy mentioned she still had a lump in her right breast. After a mammogram a year earlier, she had been told it was a blocked milk duct. Sharing her concern, her doctor sent Cathy for another mammogram. An ultrasound and MRI followed, then a biopsy. Still, Cathy was unprepared when her doctor called and said, “You have two types of breast cancer…both very aggressive.”

Wellness

One Woman’s Breast Cancer Story That’s Inspiring Women Everywhere (EXCL)

Whether we like to admit it or not, breast cancer is a lingering thought in the back of all women’s minds. In light of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Woman’s World sat down with Cathy O’Brien, a breast cancer survivor, CEO of Naturopathica, and founder of Inside the Wellspace. Having been through it while still working […]

Cathy was at work when she got the devastating news. Driving home, tears streamed down her face. At another time, she would have called her husband for support, so the reality that she was now alone hit her harder than ever.

But the Lakeland, Florida, single mom knew she had to stay strong for her children’s sake. Brandon was 21, Leanna, 15, Kennedy, 7 and Kade was just 6. Cathy sat them down and told them she was sick but stressed there was a treatment and that she would be fine. In front of them, she was always positive. But she found herself crying in private, more scared than she’d ever been. How will I get through this? she wondered.

Turned out, she was surrounded by her very own army of angels.

The “angels” who helped Cathy through treatment

As Cathy underwent a bilateral mastectomy in November of 2015, followed by multiple rounds of chemo that left her battling nausea, dizziness and weakness, family and friends rallied around her.

Her mom became her chemo buddy. She and Cathy’s dad helped with chores and errands. Her friends banded together and formed “Cathy’s Fight Club,” delivering home-cooked meals and helping out with the kids. And gifts poured in—soft blankets, candles, slippers, books, inspirational cards, lip balms, lotions, scarves and cozy loungewear.

With each thoughtful gift, Cathy felt warm and comforted, giving her strength to keep fighting, until finally getting the joyful news that she was in remission in December of 2016.

How she turned her journey into hope

With the ordeal behind her, Cathy reclaimed her life and looked ahead with hope. In 2021, she met the love of her life, Wesley Brad Angel, and they married in 2022. But as happy as she was, Cathy never forgot all she’d been through or the people who had been there for her.

And one morning, while out for breakfast with her new husband, who goes by Brad, Cathy couldn’t contain herself.

“I had so much support throughout my journey with breast cancer…I want to give back,” she said, and shared her dream to curate custom gift boxes for women going through the same battle. “I want to call it ‘Boxed by an Angel,’ as a play on our last name and as a nod to all the ‘angels’ that brought me joy during my darkest hours.”

Brad’s eyes twinkled as he smiled. “Let’s do it!” he said as he held her hand.

Life

A Pair of Fuzzy Socks Turned Into Hope for 3,000 Women

When a neighbor gave Traci Fotorny a pair of fuzzy socks, she never dreamed the gesture would spark a mission touching thousands of women battling breast cancer! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. When Traci Fotorny’s neighbor knocked on her Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, door with a warm casserole, she was touched — but […]

How ‘Boxed By an Angel’ began

Cathy launched her business during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October of 2023. With Brad’s blessing, she used money from their savings to compile 10 boxes filled with socks, nail polish, handmade soaps by Pixie Suds, earrings made by a friend and rose tea. Then, with help from her local hospital, gifted them to women undergoing treatment.

Feedback was just as Cathy had hoped for. Her boxes made women feel loved and gave them strength to keep fighting. I want to do even more, Cathy thought.

Thanks to a generous donation from her old high school coach, who had lost both his first and second wives to cancer, she was able to buy an inventory of gifts. In less than two months, Boxed by an Angel blessed 90 women, and the momentum kept getting stronger from there.

Inside the personalized gift boxes bringing hope to cancer fighters

Now an official nonprofit and funded by donations and filling orders with sponsors, the organization is blessing lives throughout the U.S. and into Canada, the U.K. and Venezuela. Visitors to BoxedByAnAngel.com can donate to the cause, gift a box to a loved one (boxes are available at different price points) or nominate someone to receive a box. Applications ask for details about the recipient so the box can be packed with personal things meaningful to them.

Boxes also include affirmation cards with inspirational messages, such as:

“I see beauty in parts of me that I used to think were broken…”

“I choose to see my life through a lens of gratitude…”

“I know I was made for something beautiful.”

Today, Cathy also has boxes for caregivers, and she is working on a men’s line.

As Cathy receives touching notes from those who receive their angel boxes, she knows God is using her in a mighty way, and she never plans to stop.

Boxed By an Angel’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month giveaway

Every year, Cathy finds even more ways to spread hope, kindness and a little joy to cancer fighters and survivors. And this October, she’s celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month with something extra special: “Fab Fun Friday” giveaways all month long.

Every Monday, beginning September 28, Boxed By an Angel will unveil a special surprise on Instagram (@BoxedByAnAngel), giving followers the chance to win. Then, each Friday, starting October 2, a lucky winner will be announced!

And there’s an especially beautiful part to these giveaways: Every prize is meant to make its way to a cancer fighter. If a supporter wins, they’ll have the chance to pay the kindness forward by donating their prize to someone fighting cancer—helping Cathy’s goal of spreading love and encouragement reach even more people.

“God has given me a mission that has filled my heart,” Cathy, now still in remission, shares with a smile. “Through Boxed by an Angel, I have met so many incredible women who bless me every day, and I want to encourage and uplift as many women as I can, to help them believe there is always hope!”

Kathy Kramer had just 90 days to step into a role she’d never held before. But as she dove into the whirlwind of planning a massive provincial fair, something unexpected happened as she discovered the work that would become her life’s calling.

Today, as president and CEO of the Central Washington State Fair, Kathy Kramer helps create magical memories for fairgoers. Her story is a journey that proves sometimes the most meaningful paths are the ones we never saw coming. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s “Fair’est of Them All” special series with celebrity chef Sandra Lee.

How a 90-day crisis led Kathy Kramer to her life’s calling

“Kramer, I don’t know who else can jump in and do this,” said Kathy’s boss in 2012.

She was sitting in an executive meeting at Northlands, a large nonprofit agriculture society and multipurpose venue in Edmonton, Canada, where she was vice president of business operations.

The organization produced everything from horse racing and gaming to conventions—and its provincial fair, the Canadian equivalent of a state fair.

But 90 days before the fair was set to begin, the woman managing it had to step away for personal reasons. Suddenly, Kathy was being asked to jump in.

She had a background in conventions and events, but running an entire fair was something new. So she shifted her other responsibilities to her fellow directors and immersed herself in every detail of the upcoming celebration, working alongside the large team responsible for marketing, production and everything in between.

And as Kathy began to see just how many moving pieces went into creating a fair, something clicked.

There was the tradition fairgoers returned for year after year, but there was also the constant challenge of finding what could be new, fresh and exciting. It was a combination of tradition and innovation that energized her — and she quickly discovered something else that made the fair business special.

It was about the community.

Kathy Kramer’s childhood fair memories started in Nebraska

Long before Kathy ever imagined making fairs her career, she knew them simply as a fairgoer.

Growing up in Nebraska, she attended her local Lincoln County Fair with her family. The fair was smaller than the one she would eventually lead, but the traditions were familiar with the same memorable entertainment, rides, fried corn dogs and the excitement of gathering with the community.

But one fair memory Kathy will never forget is cheering on her sister, a talented seamstress, who regularly entered her creations at the fair and won prizes. When her sister was selected to do a demonstration at the state fair, the whole family made the trip to support her.

Years later, those memories would take on a new meaning.

What once felt like an ordinary part of childhood had quietly become part of Kathy’s understanding of what fairs do by bringing families together, celebrating hard work and creating memories that stay with you.

Life

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After growing up showing pigs at the Waukesha County Fair and dreaming of being crowned the “Fairest of the Fair,” Shari Black turned her childhood passion into a prolific career — eventually becoming CEO of the Wisconsin State Fair Park and introducing a new generation to family fair joy. Here, she shares her story for Woman’s World’s “Fair’est […]

What it takes to run the Central Washington State Fair

That first experience running a fair in Canada opened Kathy’s eyes to everything happening behind the scenes.

There were thousands of details to coordinate, countless people working together, and a year-round process that culminated in just a handful of days. But the more Kathy learned about fairs, the more she loved the balance between honoring tradition and creating something new.

Every fair may have rides, food and entertainment, but no two fairs are exactly alike. Each one reflects the people, history and traditions of the community it serves.

Eventually, Kathy’s fair journey brought her to the Central Washington State Fair.

Today, she serves as president and CEO of the Central Washington Fair Association, the nonprofit organization that manages the fair. And the fair is no small community event.

Over 10 days, about 275,000 people come through the gates, making it the largest annual event in Central Washington. More than 60 food vendors help create the classic fair experience, while countless staff members, volunteers, exhibitors and community partners work throughout the year to bring everything together.

Because, despite what it may look like to fairgoers, the work doesn’t stop when the rides pack up and the vendors head home.

In fact, planning is already underway for future fairs years in advance.

Why agriculture remains at the heart of the Central Washington State Fair

At the Central Washington State Fair, agriculture isn’t simply one attraction among many. It is part of the fair’s DNA.

The fair has deep roots in Yakima Valley agriculture, dating back to the late 1800s, when Washington established Yakima as the home of the state fair. Through the decades, agriculture has remained central to the fair’s mission of education, commerce and community. Today, that tradition comes to life throughout the grounds.

Local farmers and ranchers bring livestock and create educational exhibits that allow fairgoers to see animals up close and better understand the agricultural industries that are so important to the Valley. FFA and 4-H students spend the year working on projects and displays before bringing them to the fair to showcase what they’ve learned.

And the barns fill with young exhibitors competing with the animals and projects they have poured months of hard work into—from livestock to creative exhibits.

Even the exhibits themselves tell a story.

The fair is fortunate to have nine local granges that transform the perimeter of its historic agricultural building into elaborate displays celebrating the Valley’s harvest and agriculture. Inside, visitors can also find floral displays and thousands of exhibits, each offering another glimpse into the community’s agricultural heritage.

Life

Renee Alexander’s Heartwarming Journey From Fairgoer to State Fair CEO

Minnesota State Fair CEO Renee Alexander’s connection to the Great Minnesota Get-Together began when she was just 8 years old, watching marching bands from the curb. Decades later, Renee has moved from intern to entertainment director to CEO, Renee has helped preserve beloved traditions while welcoming new experiences and creating memories for generations of fairgoers. […]

The new family attraction helping kids discover where food comes from

This year, the Central Washington State Fair (running September 25 through October 4, 2026) is adding a new way for families to connect with that heritage with “The Farmer’s Garden.” The interactive agricultural display will give children a hands-on opportunity to discover crops grown throughout the Yakima Valley and learn where their food comes from.

It’s the kind of experience that represents what Kathy believes fairs do best to preserve traditions while finding new ways to make them meaningful for the next generation.

Decades later, Kathy is helping create unforgettable moments for families across the Yakima Valley. She sees it not simply as putting on a 10-day event, but as caring for something that belongs to an entire community.

“I don’t take lightly that responsibility and am humbled by the opportunity to lead an incredibly creative team, work with a dedicated board of directors and work with hundreds of volunteers and partners to be stewards of this great community asset to carry out our mission,” says Kathy.

“One of my most rewarding experiences each year is simply finding a place during the Fair to sit and watch the crowds as they create lifelong memories with their families, learn and have fun together, and celebrate what makes our community so special.”

Sandra Lee brings food, community and celebration to the fair

“I’m so excited to be joining everyone at the Central Washington State Fair on Saturday, September 26th. I will be spending the entire day at the fair being part of several events and helping celebrate Yakima Valley’s agriculture. There’s nothing I love more than bringing people together through food, celebration, and community—and I can’t wait to share that experience with you.”

Keep an eye out for our “Fair’est of Them All” series in Woman’s World magazine! In celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Sandra Lee—chef, creator of Semi-Homemade Cooking and host of Blue Ribbon Bakeoff—is hitting the road with Woman’s World for a special cross-country journey honoring the remarkable women who bring America’s beloved state and county fairs to life. From longtime family traditions to unforgettable fairground innovations, these inspiring stories celebrate the heart, resilience and community spirit woven into fairs across the country.

When Lucy Graham was born with Down syndrome, her family vowed to help her shine. Today, her determination and creativity helped her find success! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

When she was in high school, Lucy Graham gave her class a PowerPoint presentation on living with Down syndrome, describing its physical effects, like digestive and heart issues.

“That’s why I needed open-heart surgery when I was 13,” she explained.

When Lucy was born, doctors surprised Susan and Bob Graham with their daughter’s diagnosis, and the Columbia, South Carolina, couple didn’t know anything about the genetic condition.

Life

Adaptive Fashion Line Brings Hope and Style to Women With Disabilities

She looks so uncomfortable and cold, Lady Natasha Fines thought as she looked at her Aunt Emma while she received her chemotherapy treatment during her six-year battle with breast cancer. I wish there were something I could do to help. Going home that night, Lady Natasha thought about the way Emma’s clothes had been stretched […]

“All we can do is try our best,” Bob told his wife, and that’s just what they did.

With assistance from the state’s BabyNet program, Lucy received therapies to help her walk and talk. Her big sister, Grace, also helped. The girls transformed their playroom into a classroom, with Grace the teacher and Lucy the eager student.

At school, Lucy was mainstreamed, though her parents helped launch an in-class special ed program to personalize her curriculum. She was a cheerleader and played on her church basketball team.

After graduation, Lucy went to Clemson University. She lived in the dorms and attended the ClemsonLIFE program, learning independent skills like cooking and banking.

Discovering Her Creative Passion

“She’s doing exceptionally well,” her counselor, Sarah, told her folks. “She’s wonderful with people, she’s creative and loves working with her hands. She would be a perfect candidate to start her own business making and selling jewelry.”

Soon, Lucy was beading bracelets, necklaces and earrings. She named her business The Upside Down Collection, to show the world the upside of living with Down syndrome.

At first, Lucy sold her pieces in the dorms, but when a local coffee shop hosted a craft sale, her parents drove up to surprise her.

But it was Lucy who surprised them.

“I sold $500 worth!” she said.

Lucy’s parents helped her build a website, and along with area pop-up shops, she began taking online orders, packaging each with a handwritten note:

Enjoy your necklace. Thank you for ordering from me.

Life

Her Son's Autism Inspired a Camp Where Every Child Belongs

Inspired by her son, Grayson, who had autism, Valerie Hund joined forces with other moms to launch the Exceptional Needs Network and create an annual camp where children with unique needs can experience friendship, adventure and the joy of summer. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. “Hello! Welcome, everyone!” Valerie Hund called and […]

How The Upside Down Collection Gives Back

Today, at 30, Lucy lives independently in an apartment above her parents’ garage. She sells at least 2,500 jewelry pieces every year and donates the proceeds to area special-needs organizations.

Lucy loves her business, and treasures the many customer thank-you letters she receives.

“It makes me feel happy that people like what I do,” she says. “I also like being able to give back to help others.”

Sawyer Tinsley felt overwhelmed and lonely—until a foster kitten’s comforting purr inspired her to help others. Now, her mission has touched countless lives! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World.

Sawyer Tinsley rushed home from school and headed straight to her room, sad and frustrated. Her first year of middle school wasn’t going well. Most of her old friends were now in a different school district in Jupiter, Florida, and because of COVID-19, it was difficult to make new friends with faces behind masks.

But the moment Sawyer opened her bedroom door, her mood lifted.

“Hello, little guy,” she said, cuddling her latest foster kitten. Its loud purring instantly helped Sawyer feel less alone.

And then she had an idea!

Life

How One Woman’s Therapy Chickens Are Spreading Comfort and Joy

When Kris Munster noticed her chickens calmed her anxiety, she decided to start a unique foundation to share the magic of her ‘healing hens’ with those who need it most! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. Drawing in a deep breath with the warmth of the sun on her face, 39-year-old Kris Munster […]

Finding comfort and connection in foster kittens

Ever since she was little, Sawyer had wanted a cat. But the family already had three dogs, and one of them didn’t like cats. But when Sawyer was 10, her parents learned about fostering kittens until they were ready for neutering and adoption. “We can give it a try so long as you keep the kitten in your room,” they said.

Sawyer loved every one of her foster kittens. Not only did the kitten find a forever home, but she also got another furry friend to help ease the loneliness of a strange school year.

But one afternoon, Sawyer experienced a sudden realization after many of her old friends had expressed their own feelings of isolation.

“Hugging a kitten makes me feel so relaxed and less lonely. Maybe it would help my friends, too,” she thought.

After some restrictions lifted, Sawyer called a few friends.

“Would you like to come over and play with a kitten?” she asked, and everyone replied with an enthusiastic yes.

“This is great!” they said, socializing the young animals.

“Can we do it again tomorrow?”

Soon, they were bringing more friends and classmates eager to make connections.

Life

‘Koda the Fluff’: This Convertible-Driving Pup Is Changing Lives One Smile at a Time

This adorable therapy dog inspires millions — and will make your spirits soar!

How yard flamingos raised $25,000 for local animal shelters

Sawyer, now 16, has fostered nearly 300 kittens. She and her friends, new and old, have also come up with a very creative way to raise money for local animal shelters.

Each August evening, Sawyer and a few volunteers quietly “flock” a neighbor’s yard, planting 15 bright pink plastic flamingos alongside a sign that reads, If you donate to help rescue animals, tomorrow you can tell us where to “flock” them next.

Neighbors love the playful tradition, eagerly nominating loved ones for a pink surprise.

Sawyer also sponsors an annual Flamingo 5K run (@FlamingoRunForRescues on Instagram) and, to date, has raised more than $25,000 for local no-kill shelters.

“Petting a sweet kitten is so calming,” she says. “If everyone could do it, I think the world would be a thousand times happier.”

A chance encounter with a disabled veteran left fellow Army vet Rick Mulligan shaken and concerned. He had to do something, and what came next became his second call to service. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.

Rick Mulligan was driving home from work on a hot day when he passed a fast-food parking lot in Hampton, Virginia, and spotted a man in an electric wheelchair with no lower legs. Veteran—Please help! read the flag he waved. Yet no one paid him the slightest attention.

That’s not right, Rick thought.

He parked his truck, walked over and introduced himself. “My name’s Rick. I’m also a vet.”

Life

How One Army Veteran Created a Special Place to Honor Military Heroes

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“I’m Randolf,” the man replied. “I’ve been trying to get into the VA, but they’re full. I have to wait, but my landlord’s getting sore with me about rent.”

Rick felt the man’s frustration down to his bones.

“I’ll be right back,” he said.

A short while later, Rick returned with cash, a bag of sandwiches, an umbrella and a cooler full of bottled water to help fend off the summer heat.

Rick was still fuming when he got home and told his wife what happened.

“Veterans don’t deserve to be invisible,” he groused.

“Well, what are you going to do about it?” she asked. Rick knew he had to do something.

Sharing hope with veterans

The very next day, Rick went to his bank and spoke with the manager, who is also a veteran.

“How hard would it be to set up an account so I can start fundraising for needy veterans?”

“Done,” the manager said five minutes later.

Rick reached out to friends, coworkers and roofing material suppliers. Within a month, he’d raised more than $3,000.

He assembled care packages with blankets, socks and toiletries and delivered them to the local VA hospital.

Rick knew this was only beginning.

He soon turned his mission into a nonprofit called the Veterans Care Project, and he and volunteers assembled more care packages, then hosted a huge Christmas feast complete with holiday gift bags for Wounded Warriors.

He has also expanded the effort with celebrations for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and, most recently, Labor Day.

Restaurants and local businesses donated food, while volunteers grilled burgers and hot dogs with all the fixings, served pizza to hospital staff and spent the afternoon laughing and swapping stories with veterans in the spinal cord injury unit and community center.

Rick and his mom always made a point of showing extra love to the veterans hospice unit.

“Of all our vets we help out, these are the ones who need to know most that we’re in their corner,” he said.

Life

Air Force Hero Converts Shipping Containers to Tiny Homes for Homeless Veterans

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Love in action

Recently, Rick teamed up with Buddy Check, a group that pairs at-risk veterans with a friend to help lower suicide rates. Soon, they’ll also offer fishing trips, museum visits and other outings.

In the meantime, Rick remains a familiar face at the VA hospital.

“They really look forward to you and the guys visiting. When they know you’re coming, they always get excited,” a hospital administrator recently told Rick.

But it was a chance encounter at Walmart that showed Rick just how much the visits meant.

He was heading to the checkout when a man approached him.

“I know you—you’re the veteran guy!” he exclaimed.

When Rick nodded, the man stepped forward and wrapped him in a bear hug.

“I’m an outpatient, but I spend a lot of time at the VA hospital. I don’t have any family left, but you and the other guys are my family now. You haven’t forgotten us.”

“And we never will,” says Rick, his voice choked with emotion. “I don’t care where you served. If you’re a veteran, you’re also my brother.”

After losing her husband, Michael, on 9/11, Monica Iken dedicated herself to protecting the World Trade Center site and preserving his memory forever. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy that struck America and highlighted the bravery of so many heroes.

Monica Iken didn’t intend to become the face of 9/11 widows. But she was on the scene first thing September 12, with pictures of her husband, Michael, who had been working on the 84th floor of the South Tower. Soon, she was all over TV and the front page of national newspapers.

“This is all so unreal,” she told her family as they gathered in her living room.

“Why don’t you go take a nap?” her sister insisted, and Monica wasn’t asleep long before she awoke to a vision. It was Michael.

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The vision that started a mission to protect Ground Zero

“You’re going on a mission,” Michael told her. “You can’t let them rebuild over the site.”

Monica woke up with a stirring in her heart.

As it turns out, there were plenty of people who were passionate about standing alongside her — widows, children and parents of the nearly 3,000 lost souls.

Businesses and investors, however, were eager to redevelop the valuable Manhattan real estate with skyscrapers.

“We’ll build a memorial on Governors Island,” they offered, but Monica was livid.

She soon formed the nonprofit, September’s Mission, which joined other 9/11 organizations.

Together, they persuaded authorities to build an on-site memorial with the full footprints of the Twin Towers.

Their fight lasted nearly a decade, but finally…

September’s mission: How 9/11 families won the battle for the memorial

“It’s really happening,” Monica whispered the day she visited a New Jersey worksite to watch her husband’s name being carved into the monument’s parapet.

The National 9/11 Memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of the attack, but Monica’s work was not done.

Life

After Tragedy, One Mom Built Hope for Military Widows and Their Children

“Your dad will always be with you in your heart,” Christine Floyd reminded her young son Ethan when he felt sad. “I just wish I knew other kids with dads in heaven,” he said one night. Christine’s heart ached because she wished the same for herself. Loading answers Marine Sergeant Derek Floyd served his country […]

Over the years, she’s helped produce the podcast First on the Scene, sharing the stories of 9/11 families and first responders. She’s also spoken regularly to students, explaining what happened to a generation too young to witness the tragedy.

“We may have moved on with our lives,” says Monica, who has remarried and is now the mother of two. “But we still remember. This year is the 25th anniversary and we’re determined to never forget the loved ones we lost.”

Freshmen Grace Millard and Jordan Chen were in the hallway of their Woodbridge, Connecticut, high school when Grace spotted a pencil on the floor, unused except for its blunt tip.

“What a waste,” she sighed, picking it up. “It just needs to be sharpened.”

Grace and Jordan had been elementary school classmates, and they’d recently reconnected because of their shared passion for the environment and sustainability. What bonded them most was their frustration with waste all over the school: old paperbacks, half-used notebooks, art supplies and poster boards discarded because people had no further use for them.

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Her Daily Walk Sparked a Movement That Removed 750,000 Pounds of Trash

After Jill Mather started picking up litter during her daily walks, it sparked a volunteer movement that’s now removed 750,000 pounds of trash! Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. Jill Mather’s retirement wasn’t going as planned. After decades of 80-hour weeks in the restaurant business, she had dreamed of traveling, relaxing and spending […]

“The sad thing is I see GoFundMe campaigns for schools begging for money to buy supplies,” Grace told Jordan that evening as they sat doing homework.

“Connecticut is the No. 1 state for school inequality,” Jordan reminded her, and that was when the idea struck.

“Think of all the places that use supplies and then toss leftovers,” Grace said. “What if we collected it, refurbished it and then passed it along to schools that need help?”

They compiled a roster of local libraries and museums that might be receptive.

“We’re collecting used and unused school supplies we can refurbish and give to needy students,” they began in their email campaign, and they didn’t have to wait long for a response.

“We have a box full of half-used markers—you’re welcome to them,” one message read.

Then a library reached out with 200 children’s books it no longer had space for.

The teens built a website and named their nonprofit Restoring Rainbows.

“Rainbows are a sign of hope and renewal,” Grace told Jordan, and the two added the name to donation bins they placed around town.

Life

Teen’s Thanksgiving Food Drive Raises $10,000 for Families in Need

There has to be a way, 10-year-old Claire Guyader of San Luis Obispo, California, told herself when she was suddenly faced with an unexpected hurdle. After doing gardening and yard work in the neighborhood with her friends, Rachel and Natalie, to raise money for charity, their efforts came to a halt when COVID prevented in-person […]

As word spread, donations began to pour in. So did offers to help. Some came from far away.

“How can I start something like this in my town?” they asked.

Grace wrote guides on how to get started, find partners and distribute donations.

In just two years, Restoring Rainbows has grown to more than 3,000 volunteers in 53 countries around the world.

To date, they’ve provided supplies to nearly 20,000 needy students.

“We can help save the environment while helping schools get the supplies they need at no cost,” says Grace.

“If you have an idea you care about, there’s never a more perfect time to start than now.”

After being on hold, Jiya Joshi finally reached the nursing home volunteer coordinator. “I want to volunteer and visit,” she explained.

The administrator was welcoming until she learned Jiya was only 14. “We don’t allow volunteers under 18,” she declared. “Our staff doesn’t have time to care for both children and our seniors.”

Jiya was crushed, and not just because of the rejection. There was also the lingering grief for her grandmother, “Dadi,” who had passed away that year.

Jiya was only two when her grandparents came from India to help care for her while her parents were at work. Her grandmother, Saroj, drove her to school and cooked up the most delicious snacks they’d share over long conversations about life, school and friends. Even after her grandparents returned to India when Jiya was in the third grade, they spoke on the phone once a week.

But now, at 14, Jiya had lost her Dadi, and the aching void left her lonely. She had her friends and her mom and dad to talk to, but it wasn’t the same. They didn’t have Dadi’s wisdom and gentle kindness.

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A heartfelt idea

That’s when the idea struck.

“What if I visit a nursing home? Maybe the residents would enjoy a visit as much as I would?”

After several more refusals to volunteer, Jiya tried something different.

“Could I come just once — a trial visit?” she asked Sharon Williams, Activities Director at Houston’s Landon Ridge Assisted Living. “If it doesn’t work, I won’t bother you again.”

Sharon was touched by the girl’s sincerity.

“Let’s give it a try,” she said, and Jiya was over the moon.

Jiya arrived for her first visit with a box of art supplies. She approached a group of seniors in a recreation area, put on a smile and introduced herself.

“I’m Jiya. Would you like to paint with me?”

“I love painting!” exclaimed a woman named Betty and soon she was regaling Jiya with incredible tales of her years as a nurse in Vietnam.

After losing her beloved grandmother, 14-year-old Jiya Joshi decided to volunteer at a nursing home — and it sparked a movement uniting generations through friendship, compassion and caring.

Young and Old United has helped spread love and support to hundreds of seniors across Houston.

“I was a pilot fighting the Germans in World War II,” said a second resident, and a third rushed off and returned with a chunk of concrete.

“You mentioned Germany — this is part of the Berlin Wall — a piece of history,” she explained.

As word of the youthful stranger spread, residents who rarely left their rooms emerged to see what the excitement was about. By the end of her visit, Jiya had a dozen new friends.

“I’ve never seen them so active,” Sharon marveled as she helped Jiya pack up. “You’re coming back — right?”

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11-Year-Old’s Sweet Mission Gives Lonely Seniors New Friends

When 9-year-old Evelyn Hill visited her grandfather in a long-term care facility, she saw how many residents didn’t get visitors and seemed lonely. Noticing one woman holding a doll, Evelyn longed to give everyone a baby doll or toy animal, so that’s exactly what she did. Here, she shares her story with Woman’s World. “Why […]

Making memories

Jiya returned every Saturday that summer. The residents adored having such a lively young person around, and Jiya loved their stories and hugs.

When school started, she invited friends to join her, and several said yes. The teens visited in pairs, and after just a few outings, many told Jiya, “This is the most fun I’ve had volunteering.”

As interest spread, Jiya founded Young and Old United. In two years, more than 500 middle and high school students began making regular nursing home visits across the state.

“Their eyes light up when they see her coming,” says Sharon.

For Jiya, the benefits flow both ways.

“Our seniors still have so much to offer,” she insists. “My grandmother taught me that. I can feel her smiling down on me!”