Bus driver comes through after thief steals special needs bike

Days before Christmas, a crook stole the primary means of transportation for a special needs woman from Parkland. But the generosity of a local bus driver has helped put Lori Niles back on wheels.

Good Samaritans rescue 2 teens, infant from icy water

Two teenagers and a 5-month-old baby were rescued from the Apple River in Wisconsin, after their vehicle left the road and broke through the ice.

Student donates Bone Marrow Anonymously to save Child with Leukemia's life, pair finally meet

Kobe Dickus was just 14 years old when he was diagnosed with Leukemia. He was dropping weight and doctors doubted he would live, that is, until doctors found Nick Magyar. A bone marrow transplant changed these strangers into friends.

Grand Rapids police help homeless find shelter during winter storm

Grand Rapids police are doing a sweep of the downtown area in an attempt to locate homeless people in need of shelter Monday during the ice storm.

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West Donate 1,000 Shoes to Charity

Kim Kardashian West and husband Kanye West have followed through on their promise to donate 1,000 shoes to non-profit organization Soles 4 Souls – just in time for Christmas. 

Police and community help mom get much-needed car repairs in time for Christmas

When police in a New Jersey town saw local mom Kristal Christ driving a damaged SUV around the area, they could've easily issued her a blizzard of tickets or sidelined the truck until repairs were made.

Stranded Santa Claus Saved By Firefighters After Car Blaze

A stranded Santa Claus whose car caught fire Christmas morning is sure to put one northern Urah fire department on his nice list next year.

Thousands in donations pour in for busboy who turned in envelope with $3,000

If anyone could have used $3,000, it's Johnny Duckworth.

He doesn't have a home of his own, a car that runs or a full-time job. But when the busboy found a sealed envelope holding what felt like a lot of money on the floor of the Colorado diner where he works, Duckworth brought it right to his boss.

"I dropped it in his hand and went back to work," Duckworth, 50, told TODAY.com. "I didn't think about the money. I was thinking about doing my job, getting it done."

He added: "I did what I did because I got a heart. I love the customers here. They treat me really good and I give them the respect right back."

His boss, Randy Emmons, was shocked to find 30 $100 bills inside, but was not surprised by his employee's good deed.

"He's one of the most honest people I know," said Emmons, Duckworth's boss of nearly a decade. "That's life-changing money for him, and for him just to turn it in like it's nothing, that's something to me."

The cash-stuffed envelope, found on Dec. 15 at Randy's Southside Diner in Grand Junction, Colorado, held a bank slip, so Emmons brought it to the bank. He later learned that the money belonged to Darrell Cox, who eats breakfast at the diner up to five times a week, and didn't realize the money was in his jacket pocket and had fallen out.

Cox returned to give Duckworth, known by his childhood nickname "Thumper," $300 for his honesty.

"It made me feel good to know there's people out there in this world who are still super honest," said Cox, 74, who had withdrawn the money for Christmas presents. "If he had taken that and put it in his pocket, I would never have known where it went."

Hoping to help Duckworth get a place of his own, Emmons created an online fundraiser called "Tip Thumper." Since Friday, donations have topped $14,000 and are climbing.

Duckworth, who works 25 hours a week (and more if the work is available), has fallen on hard times. He lost the trailer where he lived about three years ago, and money is garnished from his paychecks for medical bills, Emmons says. At night, he stays with friends or family, sometimes biking to work in the cold and snow rather than asking for a ride.

Although he needs money, he says it doesn't mean much to him.

"Money is just a piece of paper to me," Duckworth said. "You have to pay bills and it's gone the next day, so I really don't care for it."

Still, he is thankful to hopefully be getting a place of his own. "It's going to change my life way, way better than it was before," Duckworth said. "I can't wait to get it going, get off the streets, quit being cold and I want my life back."

Duckworth says he is grateful to all who have donated. "I wish I could tell them all 'Thank you' and meet them face to face," he said.

LA Police Officers Surprise Lonely WWII Veteran With Christmas Tree, Decor and Presents

Two Los Angeles Police Department officers recently surprised a World War II veteran who was alone for the holidays with a Christmas tree, lights, presents and cheer.

Officers Able Torres and Natali Nunez first met 94-year-old Herman Perry last Friday when they responded to a call from Perry's neighbor Amy who was concerned for his welfare after she hadn't seen him in about a week, Nunez told ABC News today.

Anonymous Donor Pays Year’s Rent For Homeless Family For Christmas

One family received the Christmas present of their dreams — a home for the holidays.

Latoya Ellis, a single mother who lives with her three kids in Chicago, fell on hard times after she was laid off and eventually evicted from her apartment in August. While homeless, Ellis’ story was covered by local TV station ABC7 back in November, and after learning about the single mother and her family, many viewers felt compelled to help.

Mark Hamill skips appearance with Star Wars cast on The Graham Norton Show to visit sick children at London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital

He’s been jetting all over the world to promote the seventh chapter in the Star Wars franchise.

But there was one very special stop Mark Hamill wanted to make when the cast of The Force Awakens arrived in London last week.

Girl, three, calls 999 after pregnant mum falls down stairs

A three-year-old girl helped her heavily-pregnant mother call 999 after she fell down the stairs.

In the call, Emma, who was alone in the house in Somerset with her mother Catherine Bazzard told the operator what had happened and where they lived.

Australian Woman Leaves A $4.3 Million Dollar Surprise For The Homeless In Her Will

A 96 year-old woman from Newcastle, New South Wales, dubbed the "Fair Lady of The Hill", had her final wishes carried out this week when her $4.3 million estate was auctioned off to a charity that serves the city's homeless children and their families.

In Lady Fardell's final will, she ordered that her mansion be auctioned along with all its contents, with all the proceeds going towards services for homeless children run by St Vincent de Paul in Newcastle.

Her home - built in 1871 - sold for $2.3 million in June. Its contents were auctioned in September. Combined with the sale of a share portfolio, the final figure came to a staggering $4.3 million.

Peter Fishlock, the president of Vinnies' Maitland-Newcastle division said the money would be used for the purpose intended by Fardell, providing shelter for homeless children and their families.

"She couldn't have children of her own," her nephew, Michael Ellis told The Sydney Morning Herald. "But she loved children and left almost everything she had to a charity which supported them."

sunnyskyz.com

'Santa' Facing Leg Amputation Gets Christmas Miracle From Doctors

Nothing will stop this devoted Santa from performing his Christmas duties. 

For years, Allen Young from Kansas would dress up as Santa for the kids at The University of Kansas Hospital, while his wife, Laura, would serve as Mrs. Claus. Sadly, Laura died from cancer last year. But before her death, she had a request for her husband. 

Dedicated Classroom Volunteer, 70-yo Finds Purpose With 600 Grandchildren

Dale Allers isn’t related to anyone at Sparta’s Ridgeview Elementary School, but he’s “Grandpa Dale” to the 600-plus students who affectionately greet him every week with smiles, fist bumps and hugs.

“That’s why I do it. I love the kids and their smiles,” said Allers, who has volunteered at the school the last eight years and has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Bus boy ensures safe return of $3,000 left at Grand Junction diner

A Grand Junction busboy found $3,000 in cash and didn't know who it belonged to; now, many are calling the man a picture-perfect citizen after doing the right thing to make sure the money gets back in the hands of the person who lost it.

The hustle and bustle of a local diner is as American as apple pie and a cheeseburger and it's at Randy's Southside Diner in Orchard Mesa you find regulars like Darrell Cox and hard working people like Johnny "Thumper" Duckworth making the experience pleasant and comfortable.

"These people who come in here our family to us, we take care of them," said Johnny, a busboy at the diner.

Today's Inspirational Message: Passion

The dictionary defines passion as any great, strong, powerful emotion; and gives such synonyms as fervor, determination, zeal, desire, hunger, thirst, craving, etc. It is a desire for something; one that is able to drive us towards it, and make us take any measure to get to it. Passion places value on something; such a high value that it always wants it, and is ready to pay the price for it – however huge that may be.

Passion is more concerned about the object than the reward; reward, to it, is the joy in laying hold on what it is after. Passion finds a way. Passion energizes. Passion encourages. Passion persists. Passion pays.

The only caution to be noted when dealing with passion is on where/what it is directed towards. What do you have passion for? 

Commuters Host Epic Christmas Party On The Train To Work

Commuters in Wales staged an awesome Christmas party on a busy rush-hour train ride into work last week.

On Friday morning, the group of six travelers hung paper chains across the windows, laid cloths on the tables and tucked into smoked salmon and sausages.

Kenyan Muslims shield Christians in Mandera bus attack

A group of Kenyan Muslims travelling on a bus ambushed by Islamist gunmen protected Christian passengers by refusing to be split into groups, according to eyewitnesses.

They told the militants "to kill them together or leave them alone", a local governor told Kenyan media.

Savannah Food Drive Hauls in City Record 51,152 Canned Goods

Residents with outstanding parking violations helped Savannah City Hall bring in a whopping 51,152 during its annual holiday food drive.

Mayor Edna Jackson and other city officials donated the canned goods Friday to America's Second Harvest. They said it was a record-setting donation for the city.

This year's food drive got a boost when the city department that takes in parking fines opted to allow violators to pay their tickets by donating 10 cans of food. The city took in 18,295 cans to settle parking tickets.

Savannah's city government launched its 10-day Christmas food drive in 2012.

wctv.tv

Pizza delivery driver delivers new home to homeless man

A 76-year-old man living in extreme poverty received a new home for the holidays, thanks to a compassionate pizza delivery driver who inspired a community to help.

Domino's driver Angela Nguyen delivered pizzas to Lee Haase in the outskirts of Anoka County for years.

Nelson Secret Santa pays off $300 worth of Christmas lay-bys

There's a Secret Santa making the rounds in Nelson. 

An anonymous local woman has paid off $300 worth of strangers' lay-by purchases at bike shop Crank House. 

It's the second year she has done it, refusing any recognition as she goes about her random acts of kindness. 

Melania Osborne was one of the recipients of the mystery woman's generosity this year. 

Find Your Domain

We all have our domains and natural habitats for destinies. And what I mean by this is not limited to physical environment/location, though this is usually part of it. It also includes fields of endeavours, favourable practices, interests, cultures and even associations.

Locate your territory. Every king has a kingdom, and you can’t be a king if you don’t have one. So, go discover your kingdom. But if you can’t, then establish one.

Do not compete with someone else for their own space. There is no competition in destiny. But one good thing about life is that kings are recognised even in other kingdoms. All you need to do is be a king, and your influence will extend beyond your territory. You will be reckoned with even outside your domain.

2015 is winding up. Did you reign in any area? If you didn't, then start strategising for 2016.

Sophia Feller, 9, starts nonprofit 'Heaven Sent It' to help grieving children

Sophia Feller feels her dad's presence on a daily basis.

Whether the 9-year-old girl is admiring a picture of the two of them on her bedside table or writing down memories they shared, she's determined to keep his memory alive.

"Before she could even write, she had me jotting down memories for her every time she thought of one," Courtney Feller, Sophia's mom, told TODAY.com.

Moms commit random acts of kindness in honor of San Bernardino victim

On Wednesday Dec. 2, a frantic Renee Wetzel posted to her moms' Facebook group, the Lil' Mamas.

"Please pray. My husband was in a meeting and a shooter came in. There are multiple people dead/shot. I can't get a hold of him."

Her husband, father of six Michael Wetzel, was among the 14 killed in the terror attack in San Bernardino, California.

Struggling Mom Puts Camper On Sale To Buy Gifts, Facebook Responds With Presents

When Elizabeth Garcia looked at the bare area under her Christmas tree and considered the bills that had been mounting since her last job layoff, she knew she had to do something to give her family a merry holiday. She turned to social media.

Strangers Get Happier When Asked to Give Away Gifts in Train Station

Commuters at this train station might have expected to see a sleigh and reindeer parked outside after a jolly telephone call urges them to deliver Christmas presents to complete strangers.

“The Christmas Gift Experiment” starts with a phone call from Santa — ringing from an over-sized gift box placed in the middle of the Birmingham New Street station in the UK.

£29,000 raised is beyond Martyn Ashton's 'wildest dreams'

A paralysed stunt cyclist who set out to raise £7,000 for rehabilitation equipment was given donations totalling £29,000 in 24 hours.

Martyn Ashton said the response was beyond his "wildest dreams".

The 41-year-old, from Margam, Neath Port Talbot is a former British and World Champion mountain bike trials rider.

Hero's welcome for charity cyclist

A charity cyclist from Horwich received a hero’s welcome as he completed his epic, year-long bike journey from Australia to Bolton.

Jimmy Hailwood, 29, set off cycling from his former home down under at the start of the year. He's covered 20,000 kilometres on his gruelling journey back to the UK and arrived in Bolton at around midday.

He's been raising money for Chorley children’s hospice Derian House.

itv.com

Motorists pulled over in Georgia get holiday surprise

Sheriff's deputies in a Georgia community are targeting drivers in need of some cheer and issuing $100 bills instead of traffic tickets in a welcome holiday season surprise.

Iranians spontaneously create 'walls of kindness' to help the homeless

Faced with cold weather and a troubled economic situation, Iranians are organising spontaneous outdoor charity drives.

Widower finds strength to continue Santa tradition after doctors save his leg

When Allen Young lost his wife Laura to cancer just after Christmas last year, he found it difficult to go on with one very important Christmas tradition: dressing up as Santa Claus.

'Best present ever!' Taylor Swift visits young fan with cancer for Christmas

It's the season of giving and Taylor Swift didn't hold back on giving one of her biggest fans an early Christmas present.

The 26-year-old mega star made a holiday detour to visit Delaney Clements, a 12-year-old girl in Colorado who has stage four Neuroblastoma. Clements has been battling the cancer she was 8 years old.

Atlanta homeless choir set to perform at White House holiday event

When Donal Noonan has the chance to dream, he dreams big.

Noonan is the founder and director of Atlanta's Homeward Choir, a group of 26 homeless men from the city's Central Night Shelter.

Now, with a little help from some friends, a new dream is becoming a reality.

On Monday, 19 of his singers will appear at the White House to perform at its Holiday Open House Celebration.

Their road to Pennsylvania Avenue began after a one stellar performance last year.

A friend of Noonan's asked him how he planned to top it.

"Next stop, White House," he replied.

"We laughed and left it there, but a seed was planted in my head," Noonan told TODAY.com.

Through a friend, he connected with Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who put feelers into the Oval Office.

A friend of Noonan's asked him how he planned to top it.

"Next stop, White House," he replied.

"We laughed and left it there, but a seed was planted in my head," Noonan told TODAY.com.

Through a friend, he connected with Georgia Rep. John Lewis, who put feelers into the Oval Office.

"It's such an honor to even be considered. It's just amazing, absolutely amazing. We're just over the moon."

While the excitement is contagious in the local community as well as on the Internet, Noonan and the choir faced some challenges.

For example, the group needed to raise a considerable amount of money for clothes, toiletries, suitcases, lights, accommodations, transportation while in D.C. and more.

Help came from unexpected corners.

Southwest Airlines pitched in round-trip tickets for everyone, while a fundraising campaign to raise $25,000 beat that goal by more than a thousand dollars.

"One of the things in dealing with and working with the homeless community, you realize how much you have yourself as a person," Noonan said.

Bryant Allen, a member of the choir, knows this sentiment too well.

Homeless for a year, he joined the choir at its inception three years ago and is now living in an apartment on his own and working at an Einstein's Bagels in Atlanta.

For him, the group started as an opportunity for men to escape the streets as winter approached, but the camaraderie gave him a sense of community.

"You start to feel invisible on the streets," Allen told TODAY.com. "To have people coming up to me after the performances and they're shaking my hand and telling me how great we were, it helped me open up to people. It helped me make friends.

"The shelter and the choir were kind of what I needed to gain momentum back to get my life back together," he said.

Pizza delivery guy gets $1,697 surprise tip from church

A pizzeria owner in Windsor, Ont., was shocked by the sizable tip he received when he delivered a pie to a local church this week.

Bob Ristovski, who owns the small downtown diner Bob O's Pizza, received a $1,697 tip from the congregation at Celebration of Praise International church Wednesday night.

The moment was captured on video and posted to YouTube.

"It was shocking, and it was an overwhelming experience and it was one of the best experiences of my life," said Ristovski.

Mel Freeman, the church's pastor, also appears in the video, microphone in hand, describing what was happening to Bob Ristovski and the congregation.

In a telephone interview, Freeman said a member of his church suggested that the congregation take part in a "random act of kindness."

The pastor liked the idea.

"We took advantage of the opportunity to really be a blessing to somebody here this Christmas season," Freeman said.

That led to the moment on Wednesday night, when he, his wife and other members of their church sprung the surprise on the unsuspecting Ristovski.

Freeman said the church put a bunch of pizzeria names in a hat, before one was selected randomly by a member of the congregation.

The name that was pulled was Bob O's Pizza, a small independent pizzeria opened by Ristovski more than a year ago.

A pizza was ordered and the stage for surprise was set at an evening holiday service held by the church Wednesday.

"When Bob came in, he didn't know what was going on," Freeman said. "We brought him up to the front of the church, introduced myself to him and then we let him know this is what we want to do."

'Just overwhelmed'

Ristvoski said that when he arrived with the pizza, he was brought inside and led to the front of the congregation.

"From then on, I was basically just overwhelmed with everything," said Ristovski, who told CBC News that he had not met Freeman before that night.

In the video, Freeman talks about the church, the belief of its membership and its intent to give him a tip.

"We said, 'Let's bless somebody,'" Freeman says to Ristovski in the three-minute, 41-second video.

When Ristovski is told the tip totals $1,697, collected by the congregation. He ends up hugging Freeman and appears at a loss for words as the congregation roars.

"I'm speechless," he says on the video.

The video ends with Ristovski blowing kisses to the crowd before walking off camera.

A day later, when asked to describe how he was feeling, Ristovski said very much the same thing.

"I'm still in awe about it," said Ristovski.

Both Freeman and Ristovski insist the act of kindness is random and the video is genuine, and that neither had met before.

Freeman said the church has been doing all kinds of good deeds heading into Christmas. It also donated 100 hooded sweatshirts to the Windsor Youth Centre, a local shelter for homeless young people.

'Heroes' Lift Train to Free Man Pinned Between 'L' and Platform: Witness

About a dozen CTA passengers banded together to free a man whose leg got pinned between the Red Line train and the Morse "L" station platform Friday afternoon.

Craig Gernhardt, a Rogers Park resident, was walking down the street near the Morse station about 3:30 p.m. Friday when he heard someone screaming.

"He was screaming pretty loudly," said Gernhardt, who walked closer to see what was happening and saw a man in his 30s with his leg stuck between the last car of the northbound Red Line train and the platform. "He clearly looked in pain."

Gernhardt said passengers on the platform immediately pressed the CTA emergency button and started pushing the train to the side to try to free the man.

"They literally tried to push the train to unlodge the guy ... it was remarkable that these passengers got to him so quickly," Gernhardt said.

Gernhardt said the man was freed and was laying on his back on the platform by the time police and fire officials arrived. He was taken away on a stretcher.

The whole thing was over in about 15 to 20 minutes, Gernhardt said.

A CTA spokesman confirmed the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. and that CTA personnel called for "medical assistance." Trains were slightly delayed, but there were no significant issues with train service.

Fire Cmdr. Curtis Hudson, a spokesman for the Fire Department, said that the man was taken to St. Francis Hospital in good condition.

"They're Chicago's heroes," Gernhardt said of the good samaritans who helped the man.

Honest Applebee's server reunites family, $32,000 cash

A family accidentally left tens of thousands of dollars in cash at an Applebee's restaurant in Fresno. But an honest server turned it in when they found it.

Erika and Bertha Gonzalez walked into the Fresno Police Department to find the treasure they figured no one would ever return. It took a cash counting machine to add up the $32,000 the mother and daughter mistakenly left in a booth at Applebee's.

"I think she took it out when she took out her wallet to pay and she didn't put it back in her bag,” Erika Gonzalez explained. The two made several stops on Wednesday, including a bank. They didn't originally plan on carrying the cash all day.

"We were going to deposit it to the safe box and they told us they didn't have any available,” Erika Gonzalez said.

On Wednesday night, they realized the money was missing and were sick about it. The cash is savings from the family's businesses, including rental properties and a Bay area restaurant.

Sammy Ashworth is the detective who first learned a large sum of money was found, then he got a call from the family. “They described the bag that it was in and the denominations and they determined, yeah, it was their money. It was legally obtained and they were just an average working family that had made a mistake,” he said.

The server who waited on the family, and also found the money didn't want to talk about his good deed. In fact, Applebee's managers aren't even sure he will take any reward from the company or the Gonzalez family.

“He made it very clear that he did it because it was the right thing to do, not that he wanted anything in return,” said Carrie Hellyer, the Applebee's area director. There are no surveillance cameras in the area where the family was seated. Applebee's says that's all the more reason this employee's integrity is remarkable.

"That's a lot of money. That's more than a year's salary for many of our employees and to have the knee-jerk reaction immediately be 'let's find a way to get this back to who it belongs to,' I'm very fortunate,” Hellyer said.

The Gonzalez family plans to thank the server and police for reuniting them with their vacation money and family savings. "I am so glad they found it. I really appreciate it,” Erika Gonzalez said.

"I told them their next stop had better be the bank. Or at least somewhere safe where that money can be stored,” officer Ashworth said.

The family hopes the server will accept at least a little something as a reward. Meanwhile, the family vacation to Puerta Vallarta and Guadalajara is now back on.

Kind five-year-old asks Santa to donate his gifts to refugee children

A kind-hearted five-year-old asked Santa for something a little different this Christmas - for all his presents to be given 'to a little boy fromSyria who has nothing'.

Finlay Niemand wrote a heartwarming letter to Father Christmas in which he showed concern for the refugee children fleeing the war-torn Middle East.

He asked Santa: 'Please may I have a scooter and some surprises. Please could you give my presents to a little boy from Syria, who has nothing. Love, Finlay.'

And his kind wish was granted when his parents helped him donate his presents to an ActionAid rescue centre on the Greek island of Lesbos.

His proud mum Kim said: 'At first, I wasn't sure if I was reading his letter correctly, so I asked him to read it out to me.

'When Finlay told me that he wanted to give his presents away to a refugee child, I initially couldn't comprehend that a five-year-old would consider giving up a present.

'I took the letter to my husband, and I was really tearful.'

Finlay enjoys watching the news, and his mum said that recent family holidays to Tunisia and Egypt had made him aware of troubles in the region.

She added: 'He and his sister Grace are of an age where they'll just come down and put the TV on on a Saturday morning.

'He's so small - we don't want him to be scared. We explain to him that the UK is like a safe haven, that these families escaping war are just like us.

'Syrian refugees are travelling to Europe and to the UK because in their country they can't live the way that they need to, because they want to have a better life and live like we do.

'The children were talking about it at school, and asking whether they might have a Syrian child join their class.

'Finlay's teacher told me that every child put their hand up and said that they could take a Syrian child in their classroom.'

The Niemand family, of Paulton, Somerset, hope Finlay's letter will encourage others to give generously this Christmas.

His mum added: 'I hope that if a five-year-old can have the desire to give to people in need in Syria, then an adult should stop and think.

'Me and my husband thought - if Finlay can give up one of his gifts then so can we, so we gave some money online to ActionAid's Christmas Appeal.'

ActionAid's head of humanitarian response, Mike Noyes, said the youngster's letter was truly heartwarming.

'The refugee crisis has been one of the biggest news stories of the year and touched many people in one way or another,' said Mr Noyes.

'Finlay's heartwarming letter to Santa is quite simply a lovely story of a young child's compassion at a time when compassion is needed most.'

Students surprise blind classmate with incredible Christmas gift

Brennan Draves has gone through his entire life unable to see the world in front of him.

But it wasn't the 10-year-old's disability that blinded him on Thursday, Dec. 17.

It was love.

While gripping his white cane and sitting in front of his classmates at Bay City's Mackensen Elementary, the fifth-grade student listened intently as his peers read a prepared script, revealing their big secret.

Proving that the holiday season is more about giving than receiving, students at the elementary school raised more than $7,000 in only four days to purchase their blind classmate a BrailleNote computer, allowing him to read, type, email and most importantly, learn.

As the news sunk in, Brennan nervously crossed his legs, rested his chin on his right hand and lowered his head toward his blue Converse sneakers and grass-stained jeans. When one of his peers read the school raised enough money to buy his very own BrailleNote that he could bring anywhere with him and keep through the summer and beyond, the students also learned a new lesson.

"Do you guys know what tears of joy are?" asked their teacher Tracy McMartin.

If they didn't, they quickly learned. Brennan's bright eyes welled up as his best friend Alfonso Ramirez guided him toward his mom Lindsay Goss for a long hug.

Disbelief. Gratitude. Excitement. Struggling to express himself, the 10-year-old called it the best Christmas gift he has ever received.

His mom and step-father, having been in on the secret, thought they would be prepared for the moment, but emotions got the best of them, too. The cost of the special computer falls in line with a used car and it's a purchase his family never thought they would be able to afford as their son heads to middle school next year.

"We were thinking it was something we could buy when he goes to college," his mom said. "This is just absolutely incredible."

The money was raised using the crowd-funding site GoFundMe.com. McMartin said her students wanted to do something kind for Christmas and felt helping one of their classmates out was the best idea.

Within minutes of the campaign going live on Wednesday, Dec. 9, a $25 donation rolled in. Then another. And another. When McMartin woke up the next morning, the campaign was at more than $3,000.

"I couldn't believe it," the teacher said. "The generosity from this school and community completely blew me away."

The campaign also included a heart warming video of Brennan's classmates reading reasons why he's so important to their school.

Brennan is already well-versed in using a BrailleNote. The Bay City school district owns the one he uses in the classroom and at home today, but it's limited. He can't really use the Internet on it due to district restrictions and come summer, it stays at the school.

Having his own BrailleNote, which is expected to arrive after the new year, will allow him to email, use a planner, play music, read books and type through an innovative word processor. That's a good thing, as the 10-year-old, who reads at a high school level and is into fantasy novels, is currently busy penning his own story.

"I've read a little bit of it and it's really good," his friend Alfonso said. "When it's published I would buy it."

The bumpy keys on the bottom of the BraillePad are constantly refreshing with content that Brennan feels. He then moves up and down the braille keyboard to type and communicate. When he's done taking a test for a class, he tells the BrailleNote to print off his answers and hands the copy to his teacher.

The campaign actually raised some additional money that's going to be used to purchase software and a special backpack to lug around the computer and his textbooks.

Carrying his books isn't easy. The braille version of a standard classroom textbook is about 12 times bigger. A math textbook is even larger.

Despite his disability, Brennan excels. As he continues to grow, he says he gets around easier and lives a more normal life.

"I can't see anything, but I can feel the different light over my eyes," he said. "It's a sixth sense."

His teachers say he embraces his blindness and uses it as motivation.

"His attitude is inspirational," said Shannan Suchyta, a classroom aide who has helped Brennan since he was in kindergarten. "He's always eager to learn and he's just so smart."

What may be even more impressive than the generous giving is the fact that 330 kids under the age of 12 managed to keep it a secret for more than week.

"Is that why so many random people were saying hi to me in the halls this week?" Brennan asked aloud.

Probably so, but can you blame them?

"I've never seen so many kids excited about giving a gift," McMartin said. "We have a lot of great people in this community."

Boys who love trash truck get treasure from city workers

If you ask 4-year-old Caleb what his favorite day of the week is, he will unequivocally and enthusiastically exclaim, "Tuesday!"

(And Christmas Day, he added later.)

Secret Santas pay off nearly $500K in layaway at Wal-Mart stores in three states

After recently losing his job, Thomas Etzle Jr. used Wal-Mart's layaway program to help pay for a bike, a Nerf gun and other items on his 5-year-old son's Christmas wish list.

This week, he learned that the $160 balance on his layaway account had been paid off by an anonymous donor.

'Today is going to be a good day': Dad, son say inspirational pledge before school

The video starts by focusing on a father and son sitting in a car. Dad, Jenabu Williams, asks his son, Joshua, if he is ready. Then the pledge begins.

"Today is going to be a good day," Joshua says.

Sheriff's deputy sends condolence card to woman he pulled over

Just when Gina Headen thought it couldn't get any worse, she found herself getting pulled over for going 65 in a 55 zone on Dec. 3.

She just lost her dad, Charles Penny, 75, on Nov. 11 after years of battling Alzheimer's disease. He was also diagnosed with kidney cancer in September, which is when he moved in with Headen, her husband, Steve Headen, and their three sons.

Minnesota Police Officer Spent Last Day on the Job Giving Gift Cards to Strangers

Before he left his job at the Brooklyn Center Police Department in Minnesota, Commander Brian Peters had one thing he wanted to do on his last day -- say thank you to the city he loves.

Peters decided to use the money he made for a day's work, as well as the $10 per year he earned from the police association for his service, to give back to his community.

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