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PHOENIX — Wednesday is World Kindness Day and everyone is encouraged to perform small acts of kindness for those around them. In Arizona, 12News has covered countless stories of strangers helping strangers and neighbors becoming friends . Here are a few of our favorites.
Editor's note: The above video is from a previous broadcast. 'If you're cold, take one': Family leaves scarves, hats on statues in downtown Mesa for anyone who needs a little warmth Sharie Monsam and her niece Kendra Cook are hoping a kind act will spread a little warmth this holiday season to those who need it most. The two leave hats and scarves on statues in downtown Mesa for anyone who may not have another way to keep warm in these colder months.
"If you're cold, take one," Monsam said. "This is the fourth winter that we have collected hats and scarves from family, friends and neighbors. And also, we purchased them at thrift stores.
And then we put them on the statues downtown, probably 15 to 18 statues." Read the full story here. 'Nothing compared to what they do for us': Valley Corvette community comes together for retired Glendale police officer When a retired Glendale police officer had trouble with motivation he received a challenge from his trainer: Walk 80 laps around the house and she would organize a Corvette show for him.
Russ Whitney, an avid Corvette enthusiast, did the laps and trainer Olivia Templeton reached out to the Corvette community on social media. She received an incredible response from people across the Valley, even complete strangers. Glendale officers, with area Corvette owners and their fancy rides gathered in a parking lot near Whitney’s home, lined up, revved their engines, and then made their way to his neighborhood.
As they passed Whitney's home, he was sitting in his driveway, surrounded by loved ones and caregivers, all smiles. It was clear he felt the love and support from his fellow Corvette enthusiasts as they cruised by, along with the Glendale Police Department officers in their patrol vehicles. “I’m just really excited about all the people that showed up to support,” said Templeton.
After they drove by a couple of times, they visited with Whitney, who was thrilled. “It means everything..
. everything,” said Whitney. “It means the world to me.
” Read the full story here. Mobile service offers shower, laundry and haircut services to Valley homeless The sweltering summer temperatures and record-breaking heat are especially hard on Arizonans who are homeless. While dangerous temperatures hit the desert, Cloud Covered Streets takes its mobile unit around the Valley.
It provides free showers and other necessities for people who live on the streets. The services are more than just the opportunity to clean up. “They receive a new t-shirt, new pair of underwear, new socks, new shorts, we have sports bras for the women," Robert Thornton, executive director, said.
"So they can completely put on a new wardrobe that’s not sweat-soaked and they can feel like a new person coming out.” Read the full story here. Peoria students shave heads in support of teacher diagnosed with aggressive form of cancer Students at one Peoria high school came together to show support for a teacher and coach who is battling an aggressive form of cancer.
Tyler Hussey, a geometry teacher and soccer coach at Liberty High School , recently had to have a lung removed due to his condition and is receiving radiation treatments. To show their support, many students and staff members shaved their heads right in the gymnasium, which also helped them raise money for cancer patients. Read the full story here.
When a mural created to spread kindness and positivity was vandalized, the community came together to restore it A mural created to spread kindness and positivity and to represent Valley diversity was vandalized in August. And while the artists still don’t know who did it, the community quickly rallied to restore it. The mural is on the corner of 39th and Missouri Avenues in Phoenix.
Valley art teacher Candace Greene and artist Lalo Cota brought kids and families together a couple of years ago to create the mural in the Sevilla West community. “In the morning and after school, this is the wall that the kids walk past every day,” said Greene. “It’s a great reminder on their way to school to show kindness.
” Read the full story here. Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa gives back to family who helped him out after flat tire This one is a double whammy of kindness. Arizona Cardinals linebacker Jesse Luketa got a flat tire on his way to a game on Nov.
26, 2023. His 2019 BMW didn't have a spare tire and Luketa knew he couldn't drive the car to the game. Luketa looked to his right and saw a man wearing a Cardinals #21 Patrick Peterson jersey pumping gas with his wife and kids, who were also wearing Cardinals gear, in the car.
"It looks like they’re going to the stadium, so I’m like, I have absolutely nothing to lose," Luketa said. "(I) put my window down, I just yell out, 'Are you guys going to the stadium?' He looks at me a little crazy, he’s like, 'Yeah.' I’m like, 'I’m a player.
I’ve got a flat tire, can you guys help me out? I need a ride to the stadium.' (He) walks back to his car, talks to his wife, he’s like, 'Heck yeah! C’mon!'" Luketa hopped into the front passenger seat in the family's Infiniti, leaving his car at the gas station, and they drove to State Farm Stadium in enough time for Luketa not to be late. A few days later, the Cardinals posted a video to their social media platforms showing Luketa gifting the family some gear and inviting them to watch the team take on the 49ers.
Read the full story here. Steph Curry meets Peoria teen with special needs who sunk half-court shot at the buzzer A Peoria high school student with disabilities who sunk a half-court shot at the buzzer got to meet his favorite NBA player. Before the Golden State Warriors took on the Phoenix Suns in a game at the Footprint Center, Tonatiuh "T" Ramirez met Steph Curry.
"Thank you for making my dream. I feel blessed," T said. “He’s a special person.
Seeing the video of his shot, the reaction from everybody in the gym, the whole school," Curry said. "All those moments are awesome.” Read the full story here.
A Phoenix police officer never wanted to become a school resource officer. 4 years later, he can't imagine doing anything else. This school resource officer is committed to performing small acts of kindness daily for his students.
Phoenix Police Officer Ulises Oseguera is one of more than 60 school resource officers across the city. But to the students and staff at Paradise Valley High Schoo l, "OC" is one of a kind. "I care for these kids like they're mine," OC said.
"Whenever people ask me how many kids I have, I say 'close to 2,000.'" OC said he didn't plan to become a school resource officer. But after a fellow officer was shot in the line of duty, he knew he had to take a step back for his well-being.
"I think it's very important that kids know that...
we're human, we're here. We want to help," OC said. "Not only are we here to protect them, make sure everything's ok with them, but we're here to talk.
" Read the full story here. If you have any stories of kindness you would like to share, email us at [email protected].
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