Mandy’s biggest hope for her son is that he doesn’t lose his kindness. She wants Mitchell to have an easier life than she’s had, and to live in a world where his differences don’t define him. And she hopes that he always remembers her advice: “Be kind, be sweet, be caring, be giving, because people aren’t like that with you because you’re different, so be that way with them. Teach them how to be better.”

Joe Bradford – better known to his community as Papa Joe – is the co-founder and leader of Nashville non-profit and Feed the Children partner Elijah’s Heart.

It takes all of us working together to make a difference. But how do we ensure that the values of generosity and caring become an innate part of people’s lives? Teaching kids about the impact of volunteering is a great way to help them learn about how they can shape the world.

DeeDee lives in an unsafe neighborhood with her three children. Her youngest was born with a disability that requires surgical correction. It’s tough for DeeDee to balance her time between work, childcare, and medical appointments. No matter how hard she works, things fall through the cracks.

In late March, an executive order was placed in New York to close all nonessential businesses and schools across the state to prevent the spread of COVID-19.