Awesome Story of Giving That Healed a Town: A Circle of Hands

From Denny: Pull out the tissues because you are going to need them! If you are not crying your eyes out, wondering if you emptied out the tears reservoir, then you need to watch the hour long special of this story. Yes, it's that good. If you are in need of having your faith restored in the goodness of strangers, then this story is for you. These ordinary people will astound, amaze and delight your heart.

The entire town of Grafton, Wisconsin came to the aid of a single mother battling breast cancer who has 13 year old triplets. Two of those triplets are seriously ill with a life long degenerative disease and are already now in wheelchairs. They needed so much. A whole town of neighbors, many who lost their homes and their jobs, came together to help the Longoria family remodel their home so the kids could get around in wider halls and larger spaces.

It's quite an amazing story of what spiritual development is really all about: helping someone else when you have lost so much. There is a man in the process of losing his home because he's been out of work for two months. Yet he came and volunteered every day to renovate the house. There is a hotel owner who gave the family free rooms for the entire time it took to renovate the house.

There is an AIDS charity CEO, living on 40% less income now and facing an uncertain personal financial future, who showed up to organize and raise funding - cheerfully. Another story is of a mother who lost her son 19 years ago and today came to be the interior designer for this family's renovated home. She said this is the first time she has not felt emotional pain since the death of her child.

This first video is a clip that was featured on the news. The other video clips tell the story. The full story and more links are at Dateline and it's an hour show worth watching. It reminds me of a real life story to match the famous Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." What's so much fun about this story of giving is how the giving rolled into something bigger than the project itself. People got into the spirit of giving and the joy was contagious, drawing thousands of people to volunteer during construction or to help fund the project.

A Circle of Hands is a poem written by one of the volunteers to remember the "Hometown Heroes" project that healed the town.

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Making A Difference - Moms Helping Moms

From Denny: This is known as the Rockin' Appalachian Mom Project where a woman from Connecticut decided to do something in Kentucky to help out impoverished families in need. This was not a one-time donation but a promise to stick with them for as long as it takes.

This part of the country helps deliver coal but also at a terrible price: often early death or cancer. Many young mothers are widows in the Kentucky and West Virginia region. It's a catch-22 situation where people have to decide that to survive they take the jobs - and with the jobs comes pollution, ill health and cancer. A tough dilemma for anyone.

This story is heart-warming and especially poignant during the holiday season.

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This clip is a web-exclusive and gives a more in-depth interview. You really have to take your hat off to these wealthy women getting in there with a hands-on attitude to helping other women.

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*** Thanks for visiting and hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Video: Making a Difference - Bicycles Helping People Get to Work in Tough Economy

From Denny: This is a really cool guy, a bicycle shop owner in South Dakota, took the idea from the national Cash for Clunkers and employed it for a local charity. He found a way to help finance a Bikes for Work program to help people who have no transportation be able to get to work.

With 20 million homes in foreclosure across America and millions out of work, there are still those who may have finally found work but at a much reduced income, many times up to 70% less. While people are adjusting to a chaotic economy and uncertain job environment there are still quality people out there like this man trying to do his part for his fellow man. This is such a heart-warming story!

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Video: Despite Personal Tragedy, Violinist Inspires Others

From Denny: Now here's a lady who really understands the concept of taking years to finish healing. It took 15 years of surgeries to put her body back together after a terrible subway train accident. She is a professional classical musician and to watch her smile from her heart inspires you too!

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Video: Making a Difference While You Tee Off

From Denny: I really liked this heart-warming story. It's about how as golfers people can contribute to helping the families and children of fallen or disabled soldiers. Without their help many of the children of service men and women could not go on to college.

This is a fabulous program, one of the largest grass roots sporting fund raising event ever in sports history. Patriot Day (on Labor Day) has been around for two years now. It has raised more than $3 million and awarded over 500 scholarships.

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Video: Making a Difference for Inner City Kids Thru Outdoors Program

From Denny: Here is a man in Pennsylvania who grew up in similar circumstances, experienced abuse and yet discovered nature, hunting, fishing and skeet shooting. At a year 'round camp for local kids he introduces them to Nature and outdoor activities to open their minds to other possibilities than a life of stress and crime.

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Making a Difference, abuse, Kids and Teens, society and culture

Video: Making A Difference - Father's Heart Ranch

From Denny: This is a wonderful story full of love to heal abused and abandoned boys in California. A retired professional baseball player turned non-denominational minister took his life savings to begin this endeavor. Heart-warming story from another person who chose to "make a difference" in the lives of others!

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abuse, Kids and Teens, Society and Culture, Religion and Spirituality, Making a Difference, NBC

Video: Back on Your Feet Running Club Helps Get Homeless Back into Society

Back on Your Feet Running Club helps homeless back into society – From NBC News Making a Difference segment.

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Video: Simple Pleasures Help in Tough Economic Times

Chocolate and other small expense simple pleasures still a comfort in tough economic times, from NBC News Making a Difference segment.

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