Pre-teens help police find missing woman

It happened recently in Roseville, California, where 97-year-old Glenneta Belford had "gone missing." Police posted a plea on Facebook while they searched for her in two neighborhoods. A team of five children decided to help. "I like helping," said Logan Hultman, 10, "except if it's with chores." Soon they spotted the woman not far from their homes. "All of us saw this lady walking around and we were like, 'Guys, that has to be her," said Logan.

The junior detective team called police, telling dispatchers where they found the woman. Belford was safe, and was reunited with her family. Police called the kids' actions "fantastic." Now the police department has a message for them. "We highly recommend this group of junior detectives give us a call in about ten years. Maybe we can give them a job." Logan replied, "I had no idea what my future would be until now -- a detective."

Paying it forward, one dollar at a time.

Even a few bills can make a huge difference over time. When the staff at the Siesta Key Oyster Bar in the Florida Keys were brainstorming ways to help people in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian, they realize the answer was all around them. The bar has a tradition where patrons staple a dollar to the walls, or doors, or the bar itself, or any surface. It's a cool visual, but an even cooler donation.

The staff spent the entire month of September gently prying each bill off, and when all was said and done, they had accumulated $13,961 to donate. "You pay it forward," says the bar's general manager, Kristin Hale. "It gives it a whole new level of respect for what you do, when you have the ability to pay its forward."

Cheerleader saves child's life

A woman near Dallas, Texas, named Nicole Hornback was out watching a parade with her kids last month when her two-year-old started choking. She tried giving him Heimlich, but didn't know how to do it on a small child, so it didn't work. But luckily, 17-year-old cheerleader Tyra Winters happened to see what happened from a float she was riding on in the parade.

She knew what to do, since she plans to be a pediatric surgeon someday, and took CPR classes in 8th grade. So she jumped off the float, grabbed the child, tipped him forward on his stomach and hit him on the back a few times. She saved his life. Once he was breathing again, Tyra handed him back to Nicole and ran off to jump back on the float so she didn't miss her ride. She treated her deed as "no big deal" and Nicole didn't even get Tyra's name until she reported the incident on Facebook. Someone at Tyra's school saw it, and Nicole recently met up with Tyra to say thank you in person.

The "subway soprano" from Russia

Emily Zamourka, 52, moved to the United States from Russia more than 20 years ago and was teaching violin and piano, but she fell ill and became homeless when she could not afford medical care. To earn money, she played her violin in Los Angeles, California, subway stations for donations, until someone tried to steal her violin and broke it. The only choice she had left was to sing for donations. That's when the Los Angeles Police Department tweeted a video of her singing opera in a station. It received over 880,000 views.

The Internet fell in love with her voice. A reporter tracked her down and she was shocked when someone told her she'd been seen on TV. Since then, she's found a place to live. Someone is giving her a new violin, and Grammy-nominated music producer Joel Diamond sent her an offer to make a huge, classical cross-over hit record by "the subway soprano." Two GoFundMe campaigns have raised over $90,000 for her, and she scored a gig at an Italian heritage event.

The power of love

Amber Guyger was recently sentenced to ten years in prison for fatally shooting Botham Jean in his own apartment in 2018. She said she mistook the unit for her own and believed he was an intruder. Both Jean and Guyger's families testified at her sentencing. The victim's brother, 18-year-old Brandt Jean, spoke slowly and deliberately. "I don't want to say for the hundredth time how much you've taken from us," he said. "I think you know that. But if you are truly sorry, I forgive you. And I know if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you."

"I love you just like anyone else," he continued. "I'm not going to say that I hope you die, just like my brother did. I personally want the best for you. Again, I love you as a person, and I don't wish anything bad for you." Then, wiping a tear from his eye, he asked District Judge Tammy Kemp, "I don't know if this is possible, but can I give her a hug please?" Judge Kemp said "yes," so he stepped down from the witness stand and hugged her tightly, as the judge wept.

Students give classmate clothing

Today's crumb is contributed by a reader in Indiana. Michael Todd is a freshman at Martin Luther King Prep school in Memphis, Tennessee. He was being bullied because he wore the same clothes every day. He explained "My mom can't buy clothes for me because I'm growing too fast." So a football player, Kristopher Graham, decided to help.

He texted teammate Antwan Garrett, and the two found clothing in their closets to give Todd. They showed up with shirts, shorts, a pair of Garrett's brand new shoes, and more. Todd said he was completely shocked. "That was the best day of my entire life," he said.

A crumb about Deputy Friendly

In Florida, Sumter County Sheriff's Deputy Friendly settles into a tiny chair once a week, opens a picture book, and begins to read. When he leaves, the book stays behind for the classroom library. His outreach program is for pre-school children at four elementary schools.

"So many times when we go in there, I ask if they're afraid of deputies or officers. You wouldn't believe how many raise their hands." And kids aren't the only scared ones. "Some of these deputies are scared to death to go read to the kids, but in the end they just love it." Once the kids have a chance to talk with Deputy Friendly, their fears disappear. "By the end of the year, they run up and hug you. And when they see us in public, they remember us and remember what books we read."