World hunger within third world developing nations is a critical issue, according to the United Nations. Each year over 1.3 billion tons of rotting African food, that could otherwise feed over 300 million people annually, are discarded. In just Uganda alone, up to 40% of fruit and vegetables end up being thrown away. Ironically, thousands of African’s die annually due to hunger and malnutrition. Perishable foods, like fruits and vegetables, rot in the hot Ugandan sun and account for the highest wastage rates of any food group. Some of the major reasons for much of Africa’s food waste crisis are…
Author: Robert Amoroso
If you’re a movie buff, you’ll undoubtedly recall the 1988 critically acclaimed film/documentary “Gorillas in the Mist”, starring actress Sigourney Weaver as famed primatologist researcher Dian Fossey. The film recounts Fossey’s struggle to save the critically endangered mountain gorillas. Known as the “Gorilla Girl” among the natives, Fossey was a fearless and ferocious advocate for saving these magnificent primates against extinction. However, on December 27th, 1985, Fossey was found dead in her isolated cabin at the Mt. Visoke research site, murdered by a machete blow to the head. Her assailant was never actually identified, although rumors persisted that it may…
We sometimes forget that those celebrities we fawn over appearing on our TV screens usually come from humbled beginnings, like most of us. Many worked as servers and waitresses before hitting it big, while others struggled for years taking menial acting roles, playing bit parts, hoping that lightning would strike. Hoping one day they would achieve the fame and fortune that comes with being a star. One such celebrity is Actress Chrissy Metz, who acknowledged several years ago while being interviewed by Glamour Magazine, just how destitute she was before her life was suddenly transformed. With just 81 cents left…
Sthembile Mngwengwe believed that with God’s help, nothing was impossible, provided one also believed that hard work and perseverance would be required to achieve your dream. Employed as a cleaning lady in 2006 at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, 40-year old Sthembile Mngwengwe had a dream of furthering her education so that she would be able to provide a better life for both herself and her daughter. She knew that education would be the key to her success, but she also knew that it wouldn’t be easy to go back to school and virtually begin all over again. She…
The term “Semper Fi” or “Semper Fidelis” is a Latin phrase meaning “always faithful”. It’s the motto that every Marine recruit comes to know the moment he or she enters boot camp. The phrase reflects a collective and eternal commitment to succeed, whether on the battlefield or later in life. Josh Himan studied finance at Radford University. After graduation, the young patriot felt a calling to serve his country by joining the Marine Corps. Soon after enlisting in the elite branch, Himan was deployed to Afghanistan where he served his tour of duty without any major instances. That is, until…
We may never know where or when a simple act of kindness can make the difference between life and death. Even a thoughtful gesture as simple as a “thank you” can make all the difference in the world for someone silently struggling to survive. Casey Fischer, a student at Southern New Hampshire University, had just completed her first class. She had about an hour to spare before the next class when she decided to get a cup of coffee at the local Dunkin’ Donuts. When she arrived to the store, she noticed a homeless man by the side of the…
On November 5th, 2008, 14-year-old Chelsea Banton was fighting for her life at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina. Suddenly, something appeared that signaled to her mother, Colleen Banton, God had indeed heard her prayers and sent an angel to intercede on her behalf. The startling image of an illuminated winged figure hovering in front of Chelsea’s hospital door was captured on the hospital security camera after Chelsea was taken off life-support. The young girl had been admitted to the hospital once again, suffering from a horrific case of pneumonia on top of a lifetime of other severe health issues…
On November 2nd, 2020, at precisely 2:24 pm, little Briar Juliette Lockwood came into the world weighing in at 7 lbs 1oz. Quite an accomplishment, considering that the birth mother was a 51-year old woman that had just given birth to her own “granddaughter.” Before we begin Julie Loving’s amazing journey, it’s worth noting that it’s extremely rare and quite risky for women over 50 to give birth “naturally.” According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development about 9% of men and 11% of women in the U.S. have experienced fertility problems, with between 10 to 20…
Little did Kristy Irby realize when she left her home with 2 ½ year old daughter Alley on Tuesday, that she would soon be submerged in her vehicle, begging God to save their lives. The near tragic event began as Kristy drove down the narrow country road in Pelahatchie, Mississippi. While speaking on the phone with her husband, a young deer suddenly sprang out from the dense forest and on to the slippery roadway directly in front of her car. The young mom instinctively swerved away from the deer while jamming on her brakes. This caused her to lose traction…
If you’ve ever been confined to a long stay within a hospital environment or know someone who has, then you most likely know how emotionally debilitating that experience can be. Eleanor Love, a young medical student, saw first hand how ill, long term patients would react if they were fortunate enough to receive a bouquet of flowers from a family member. Almost immediately, their mood would change. They would start to feel good about themselves knowing that someone on the outside cares. Love also realized that the longer a patient stayed confined to a hospital bed within a healthcare facility,…
In a world viewed through the narrow lens of the media where cynicism thrives, there’s a larger and broader parallel universe that seldom makes the evening news. That’s where restaurant owner and former auto mechanic Eliot Middleton resides, using his skill to help those in need. Before 36-year old Middleton opened his restaurant, he was an accomplished auto mechanic for 15-years. “My dad was a mechanic, and I would hang out around his shop since I was 4 years old,” Middleton said. “I’ve always been fascinated by cars.” After he graduated high school, Middleton went on to train as an…
No matter how many times we attempt to rationalize a chance encounter with logical and plausible explanations, there’s that feeling tucked deep inside of us that divine intervention perhaps played a decisive hand in those unscripted random run ins. Take the chance encounter by two co-workers employed at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, for example. For decades they worked within the same department, hardly speaking to each other other than an occasional greeting as they passed one another during the course of a workday. On one August afternoon, both Tia Wimbush and Susan Ellis found themselves in the woman’s bathroom getting…
Kieran Moïse, a young, compassionate teen, decided to put his impressive 19” Afro hairdo to good use by offering his beautiful curls in a charity drive. The 17-year old was joining the United States Air Force Academy, where his imposing Afro would instantly be sheared off and swept into the garbage, along with thousands of other new recruits. That’s when Kieran conjured up a way to have his pride and joy put to good use; by inviting the community in Huntsville, Alabama, to watch him get his Afro shaved off in a charity drive to benefit kids with cancer. “My…
Redemption has always been a part of Brayden Morton’s philosophy. He believes the fundamental nature of mankind is basically good. On June 18th, 2021, Brayden’s philosophy was put to the test when his beloved dog, Darla, was stolen from his gated backyard while he was at home, working from his office just a few yards away. Suddenly, Morton heard a commotion from the backyard, along with the clanging sound of his gate being flung open. Within a matter of seconds, Morton dashed down the stairs in time to see a truck speeding off in a cloud of dust, with his…
When 11-year old Davyon Johnson of Muskogee, Oklahoma, left for school on the morning of December 9th, he was unaware he would be responsible for saving the lives of two people. The first incident occurred shortly after Johnson got to class at Muskogee Public School, when he noticed that a classmate at the 6th and 7th Grade Academy began making a strange sound. Immediately, Davyon realized the other kid was chocking after he accidentally swallowed a water bottle cap while attempting to pry it open with his teeth. Davyon sprung into action, sprinting over to the choking classmate to begin…
Doctor Omar Atiq is an oncologist who has been treating cancer patients since 1991 when he first opened his doors to the Arkansas Cancer Clinic, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Since then, thousands of patients have been treated at his clinic. The clinic provides an array of cancer treatments ranging from chemotherapy and radiation therapy, to diagnostics such as CAT scans. Unfortunately, all that changed last March when the clinic after nearly 3 decades closed its doors for good. The clinic still had over $650,000 in outstanding bills from their patients. That’s when the Doctor Atiq thought maybe there was a…
What are the odds that a physician would be riding his mountain bike in the remote Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails in Crow Wing County, Minnesota, at the exact same moment that another biker a few miles ahead, was fighting for his life after taking a nasty spill? Biker Jesse Coenen usually rides the rugged Cuyuna Lakes trail to unwind after spending his shift as an emergency physician at the Hayward Area Memorial Hospital in Wisconsin. “Mountain biking is an activity that I enjoy, which is why I happen to be in that spot that day,” Coenen acknowledged. Ironically, that…
Being incarcerated after committing a heinous crime is a bleak existence, without a doubt. For many, the likelihood of returning back to prison as repeat offenders is almost assured. According to a recent government study conducted in 2021, the United States releases approximately 600,000 former inmates annually. Within 3 years of their release, 2 out of 3 people are rearrested, and over 60% are incarcerated again within a state or federal prison. A bleak, revolving door, without any hope of redemption. Unless, of course, you’re one of the fortunate inmates housed within Maine’s prison system encouraging inmates serving long prison…
With the abundance of food produced in America, have you ever wondered why so many of our fellow citizens go to bed hungry? According to a recent study, “food waste makes up about 25% of all material in landfills, more than any other single source of waste.” That stark reality hit home during the airing of a popular food show that now dominates the airwaves. The theme of the show was to pit several celebrity chefs against each other using thousands of pounds of “surplus food”. Surplus food, also known as “discarded food”, is considered degraded because it doesn’t look…
Was it a simple act of kindness that motivated a Good Samaritan, or “divine intervention”? In the wee hours on December 10th, Kentucky native Jim Finch became inspired to load up his truck with food, water and a BBQ grill, and head to Mayfield, where the devastating series of deadly tornados tore into the heartland. Like many across the nation, Finch watched in disbelief as mother-nature ravaged rural communities and small towns along a 200 mile path of destruction, spewing over 69 tornadoes across multiple state lines, including Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Kentucky, however, experienced what…