10 Stories From 2020 That Revealed Kindness Amid COVID-19

PHILADELPHIA, PA — There's a subtheme running through 2020 Patch stories in Pennsylvania; people handled a hard year by helping other people and tapped creativity to do it. It wasn't all bad and these 2020 Patch stories demonstrate that kindness is everywhere.

Delco Satanists Aid Domestic Shelter

Even our area Satanists caught the do-good fever. Satanic Delco dropped off two vehicles' worth of items for donation to the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County, Inc. in early November.

The group, formed in February by Joseph Rose of Ridley, had aimed at helping the shelter but was paused by the pandemic. By November, they had pulled together a generous donation valued at almost $3,000.

"We are really grateful for these incredible donations," said Smita Sanwardeker, Communications Director of the Domestic Abuse Project of Delaware County. "We did not expect for it to be so generous." Read the story here.

Plumber Builds Adorable Squirrel Tables

April was arguably the worst month of 2020 as many were locked down at home, others were working in essential jobs, and businesses shut down. Public health officials became concerned not just with the coronavirus spreading, but with the state of America's mental health.

One Bryn Mawr man, a plumber, dreamed up a small form of relief. Rick Kalinowski, 43, is a plumber and HVAC contractor whose work came to a halt when the COVID-19 virus hit the Philadelphia region. With time on his hands, he took photos and videos of squirrels in his yard and shared the footage on social media.

Kalinowski made a mini picnic table for the squirrel in his yard using scraps from a deck project. He shared shots of squirrels at the bench on social media.

Everyone wanted one. First it was 46 orders, PayPal and CashApp. Next, he took it to the Etsy online store, set up an LLC called Squirrelly Treasure Co., and within 48 hours he had 300 orders.

"It's going to bring a lot of joy," he said of the tables' ability to draw in fuzzy critter to watch. "I don't think it will die down." Read the full story here.

Community Pitches In A 'Mountain' Of Aid After A Huge Fire

As summer 2020 turned us loose from lockdown, tragedy struck in North Coventry Township, near Pottstown. A fire on July 30 burned the Ashwood Apartments building to the ground, displacing more than 100 people. Officials determined that the fire was deliberately set by a resident of the apartments, and a resident has been charged.

The good news is that the community responded with overwhelming care for the fire victims.

Pottstown's Norco Fire Company had to halt donations and ask people to give gift cards or money. The fire company said the response from the Ashwood Apartments fire has been "greater than anyone could have possibly predicted."

The fire company said organizations who are helping have been "flooded by generosity" from the community. Read that story here.

Tooth Fairy Gift Turns Into United Way Fundraiser

Kids everywhere understood also that giving is a way to dispel the pandemic's gloominess. A generous visit from the Tooth Fairy has helped inspire a 6-year-old girl from Bucks County to help the hungry and homeless.

Ryleigh Favro, of Upper Southampton (with some help from mom, Ashley) in October started a fundraiser for the United Way of Bucks County.

Ashley says that when Ryleigh lost a tooth recently, the Tooth Fairy dropped off money at home as well as at grandma's and great-grandma's houses, racking up a total of $45. But, instead of thinking of herself, the big haul led Ryleigh to think of others.

Ryleigh wanted to help people who were hungry, homeless, or just lonely. With her mom's help, she set up her fund with a goal of $1,500. To date, it's raised over $1,800. Read the story here.

Scout Gets Musical Instruments To Kids Who Want To Play

One Pennsylvania teen set out to collect musical instruments as part of his Eagle Scout project in Devon Troop 50. Julian Lu loves music and told Patch he wanted to help kids learn music. He found an organization to work with.

Lu's project is to collect instruments and donate them to Philadelphia nonprofit Musicopia. Musicopia's professional volunteers refurbish musical instruments. The instruments Lu is collecting will find new lives with new players who might not have been able to afford them.

Lu set up collection locations and received dozens of donations that will give idle musical instruments new lives. Read the full story here.

Sale Of Crafted Pens Supported Internet For Everyone

Another youth, a girl from Phoenixville, got creative and started raising funds with a craft project.

The "Together We Can" theme in Phoenixville was taken quite seriously by one Manavon Elementary student who looked for a way to help everyone afford internet for virtual school.

Brianna began fourth grade virtually this year, like most other students in Chester County. She said in the fall when classes resumed, it was clear some classmates were struggling.

"In the Zoom classes, some kids were having trouble staying in the class," said Brianna. "Our teachers were asking for help to get internet service for everyone." Brianna Emplit used a craft project making flower pens to sell them and give money to the foundation. Read the story here.

Emergency Responders Saved A Dog Stuck In A Groundhog Hole

Through it all, emergency responders kept doing what they do: helping everyone. Even dogs got emergency help. In October, responders hurried to the north Middletown neighborhood to rescue a dog. Coco had been outside when she ran into a groundhog hole, fell about four feet, and got stuck.

To get to Coco, the emergency crew had to dig holes around the stuck pup as well as cut thick roots out of the way to get to her. After about 45 minutes of work, Coco was freed. Read the story here.

We Got Exercise Outdoors And Some Took That To Serious Ends

Some of us were more motivated than others. One Haverford Township man decided to run every single day as his way of making it through 2020.

David Walsh, 55, of Havertown, decided on March 13 when coronavirus mitigation efforts put the world on pause that he would run daily through the pandemic. As of Dec. 15, Walsh had counted 2,040 miles over 275 days.

He told Patch he's covered the township, learned to appreciate the architecture of the area and discovered the alleyways of Haverford Township. Read the story here.

Donations Were Everywhere

Santa has had many extra helpers this year. Dawn Haaz, founder of Girls Empowered, partnered with Bucks County Children and Youth and several local businesses to provide winter bags filled with activities for youth in grades K-6.

Her nonprofit organization holds workshops, programs, and summer camps to empower girls in the community. Like many other organizations, Girls Empowered gathered and donated items that kids could enjoy while stuck inside. New books, puzzles, board games, card games, arts and crafts supplies, Lego sets, building activities, and baking mixes were on the list. Read the story here.

Some Gave Money, Also

One unnamed benefactor shelled out a big donation for the Lansdale area community. An anonymous donor at Thanksgiving time agreed to match up to $15,000 in donations to the North Penn YMCA.

"We are honored and humbled that an anonymous donor has offered to match gifts up to $15,000 during this challenging time," said North Penn YMCA CEO Bob Gallagher. "Thanks to our contributors, we'll be able to provide financial assistance to many more community members in need."

The donation match period continued through "Giving Tuesday." Read the story here.

BONUS Smile Story:

Adam Sandler stopped in Wayne early in October, dining at DanDan Asian restaurant. The movie star was spotted here and there around Philly while in town shooting "Hustle," a Netflix movie.

Read the story here.