Good People of the Week: European Gay dating app Brings Many Offers to Shelter Fleeing Ukrainians

Help can come from anywhere - This story proves it. Even a gay dating / social app has brought many offers to house Ukrainian refugees. These people are heroes - and they're all throughout Europe. Here's the story.

(Screenshot) 

European Gay dating app Brings Many Offers to Shelter Fleeing Ukrainians

https://www.queerty.com/gay-dating-app-asks-users-help-ukrainians-blown-away-response-20220304

A well-known gay dating app says it’s been blown away by the response of its users to the plight of Ukrainians fleeing their country. It’s estimated around 1 million people have left the country following Russia’s military invasion.

The social media site and app ROMEO (formerly known as Planet Romeo) was launched in Germany around 20 years ago. It has 3 million members all around the world but is particularly popular in parts of Eastern Europe and the Baltics. 

Besides the regular profiles common to such apps, it also allows people to join from a vast number of forum groups. At the start of this week, it launched a group called ‘Shelter for Ukraine’. The group is to “connect those who can offer shelter and assistance”.

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Users immediately began to join and offer up their spare rooms or homes.

The group now boasts over 8,000 members after just four days, with hundreds of offers of help.

“We live in Prague and can offer a place to stay in our small guest room with one bed (140×200 for one person or couple),” was one typical entry.

“I can host in italy near by Pisa ( Tuscany ) one or 2 person,” said an Italian. “I live actually in countryside .I can travel and collect you up to the Italian border.”

“I offer accommodation for the one or those you urgently need. Whether male or female, up to 2 people,” said another person. “Would also offer shelter or sanctuary to those Russian soldiers who oppose the war and/or are fleeing from Putin’s government as a result.”

We’re printing more examples below but have hidden the identities of users.

A spokesperson for ROMEO told Queerty why it created the ‘Shelter for Ukraine’ group.

“When we heard the news of the invasion of Ukraine, like many, we wanted to do something to help. We are an international team, with people from all over the world. Many of us have experienced war and oppression. Connecting people is what we do, so we looked at how we could use the platform to connect people in need, with our users who are willing to help.”

A few people online have pointed out that Ukrainian men aged between 18-60 are currently not allowed to leave Ukraine and are being made to stay and fight. The spokesperson acknowledged this to be the case but said the appeal was not just to help men.

“We understand that some men have made it out, but many are still there. We have some users sending pictures and updates. The offer of shelter is not only for men, it is for their parents, sisters, children.”

Indeed, one user yesterday appeared to indicate he has several people due to turn up: “Now at the weekend come to my home 2 wifes and 5 children! They can stay as long they want! Greetings from Austria!”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has been going on for the past week, with the death toll mounting. Hundreds of civilians have now been killed.

ROMEO is not the only geo-social network to appeal to users for the support over Ukraine. Grindr also posted a message yesterday encouraging users to support LGBTQ organizations in Ukraine.

Refugees have also found help through a network of Facebook groups, while Airbnb has also pledged short-term accommodation for 100,000 through its independent nonprofit, Airbnb.org.

Heroes: Wellesley and Framingham, Mass. police Find and Return Stolen Puppy

There is nothing more cruel than kidnapping a child, human or animal- and that's what 2 losers did to a puppy in Massachusetts. Today's Blog honors the HEROES in the 2 police departments that worked together to find the dog and bring her home. Officers Derek Harris and  Officer Mike Mankavech, of the Wellesley Police worked with the Framingham Police and are the Heroes of the week.   Here's the story from the Boston Globe>>>

(Photo: Wellesley police officer Derek Harris with Ember'.. Credit: Wellesley Police) 

Stolen puppy returned to Wellesley family after being tracked down in Framingham Ember 

– the eight-month-old black lab – disappeared on Thursday. Ember was on a tether in the front yard of her Wellesley when she disappeared. 

\Christiana Botic / The Boston GlobeBy Mia McCarthyJuly 26, 2021

A puppy stolen from her Wellesley home was found and returned to her family on Sunday, after police say she was taken by two Framingham suspects last week.

Ember – the eight-month-old black lab – was on a tether in the front yard of her Wellesley home on Redwing Road when she disappeared “during a very short time frame” on Thursday, July 22. Her owners, Neil and Illana Nissenbaum and their three kids, were surprised she had gone missing after being tied up outside to dry off after a swim, the Boston Globe reported.

“She doesn’t ever get out,” Illana told the Globe. “The only way that she gets loose is when she runs out the door.”

Wellesley police reported that the tether and its clasp appeared to be working correctly, leading Officer Derek Harris to believe the dog was stolen. Locals were quick to help the Nissenbaums look for Ember, who the Globe reported is “famous” in the neighborhood.

“Everybody stepped up,” Neil Nissenbaum said. “I think my wife told me that in the morning the mailman, the UPS driver, and the police were all looking for Ember.”

Video of Ember's Reunion with her parents

Officer Harris, along with Officer Mike Mankavech, then talked to neighbors on the street, some of whom had security cameras and provided footage to police. The statement said Harris noticed one vehicle circling around the family’s Wellesley residence multiple times before the disappearance.

(Photo: Officer Michael Mankavech, Wellesley Police. Credit: Wellesley, Mass. Police)

After running the license plate, officers found the suspicious car belonging to a Framingham resident. On Sunday, police arrived at the suspect’s residence, where they saw Ember “in plain sight.”

The statement said Wellesley police worked with Framingham police to recover the puppy and identify the suspects. Ember was returned to her owners later that evening and was not harmed.

Police announced they arrested a 40-year-old male Framingham resident at the scene. Another suspect – a 32-year-old female Framingham resident – was also identified and will be summonsed to court according to police. According to NBC10 Boston, the suspects told police they took the dog to make themselves “feel better” for an unidentified health issue.

(Caption:  Ember being pet by her family before a press conference held at the Wellesley Police Department on Sunday. – Christiana Botic / The Boston Globe)

The suspects are facing charges of stolen property over $1200 and conspiracy. The male suspect was arraigned on Monday at Dedham District Court while the female suspect will be arraigned at a later date.

“The Wellesley Police Department would like to thank all the citizens in the Redwing Road and Cedar Street neighborhoods that we spoke to over the course of the last few days,” the statement said. “Without the help of the neighbors, this case would probably not have had such a great ending.” “[Ember] brought us together as a family,” said Illana to the Globe.

Good Person/Hero of the Week: India boatman praised for saving baby girl floating in a box

This week's hero is a fisherman on India's Ganges River. He saw a box floating on the river and realized there was an infant within that had obviously been abandoned. He saved the baby. Here's the story from BBC News 

(Photo of fisherman holding the box with the baby. Credit:  https://indianlekhak.com/india-news/newborn-baby-girl-found-floating-in-the-ganges-in-a-wooden-box-saved-by-the-sailor )

India boatman praised for saving baby girl floating in a box

BBC NEWS June 17, 2021 

A boatman in India's northern Uttar Pradesh state is being praised after he rescued a baby girl found floating in a wooden box in the Ganges river.

Gullu Chaudhary said he was alerted by the cries of the 21-day-old and found her wrapped in a red scarf in the box decorated with images of Hindu deities.

The baby has been taken to hospital and her health is being monitored. She will be sent to a shelter home later.  Officials are investigating how the baby ended up in the river.

They have not speculated on possible motives for the abandonment, but India's gender ratio is one of the worst in the world. Women are often discriminated against socially and girls are seen as a financial burden, particularly among poor communities. Although most unwanted female fetuses are aborted with help from illegal sex determination clinics, cases of baby girls being killed or abandoned after birth are not uncommon either.

Police said the box had a birth horoscope card which had the time and date of the baby's birth, and mentioned her name as Ganga - the Hindi name for river Ganges.

The state government said it would bear the costs of the baby's nurturing. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that the boatman would be rewarded with government benefits, including a house, for showing a "matchless example of humanity".

Officials in Ghazipur district, where the baby was rescued, told reporters that District Magistrate MP Singh had checked on the baby and that officials were also sent to meet the boatman.

Mr Chaudhary told local reporters that when people on the river bank heard the baby girl's cries, no one stepped forward to help. "But I rushed to rescue her. When I opened the wooden box, I found her." The incident created a stir as a crowd gathered on the banks of the river. Videos shot at the scene showed the boatman picking up the box from the water and cradling the newborn in his arms. He then took the baby to his house from where police picked her up and the child welfare officials took her to hospital.

Good News/Hero of the Week: My Autistic Son Didn’t Have A Prom Date. What His Brother Did Next Was Beautiful.

 This week's Good News story has a number of things to appreciate. First, its important that everyone be more accepting of people with disabilities like Ian in this story, who has autism. Second, Jonah, the brother of an autistic high school student is a Hero in my eyes. He is the epitomy of "Brotherly Love" and his actions brought a tear to my eyes when I read this story.  

 The author's sons, Jonah (right) and Ian (left), poses for prom pictures on their front lawn. COURTESY OF LAURA MCKENNA

My Autistic Son Didn’t Have A Prom Date. What His Brother Did Next Was Beautiful.

Laura McKenna

to the Huffington Post, June 16 ,2021 

My husband and I will be two of those tearful parents of a high school graduate in a couple of weeks. We are beyond proud of our boy, Ian. But our pride is mingled with some irritation and resentment because students with disabilities like my son do not always feel included in this month of graduation parties and rituals. They often remain on the outskirts of school life, even during this special time.

My son Ian is on the autism spectrum, a disability that affects social skills, so he did not have a partner or group of friends to join him at prom earlier this month. Instead, his older brother, Jonah, took the day off from his summer job to escort Ian to the prom. While schools may be slow to find a place for families like mine, sometimes a good-natured big brother can make a difference.

From a young age, siblings of kids with disabilities often need to support their parents with caretaking responsibilities and watch their brothers and sisters struggle to complete tasks that nondisabled kids might find effortless. Conformity-loving teens can be embarrassed by their siblings’ behavior and appearance. Ian’s version of autism is relatively light, but his therapies and tailored activities were sometimes so time-consuming that I had less energy for Jonah.

At the same time, these relationships can provide powerful gifts for these siblings. They are able to learn to appreciate the beauty in differences and neurodiversity. Jonah told me that his relationship with his brother has changed the way he sees the world and, he believes, made him kinder and more patient.

“I can empathize with lots of different people,” he said. “I don’t judge people too quickly based on their behavior.”

Back when he was in high school, I suggested that Jonah write his college admissions essay about his experiences having a brother with a disability. He refused. Jonah said he didn’t want to feel pressured to say anything negative about Ian because his brother was only a source of positivity in his life. “I just like the dude,” he said.

About a month ago, when I asked if he would accompany Ian to prom, Jonah promptly said yes. The afternoon before the big day, we picked up matching charcoal gray suits and scarlet bow ties from the local tuxedo rental shop. Jonah styled Ian’s hair with goop and attached his cuff links. As I took the obligatory photos on the front lawn, Jonah showed his red-headed brother some men’s catalog-style poses for the camera.

During the evening, Jonah texted me with updates about how Ian blended in on the dance floor and chatted with classmates. When they came home, I asked Ian how it went. Not one to emote, he simply said, “Great!” He had a huge smile on his face, so I knew it was a special night. Jonah said he also had fun that night because it was so enjoyable watching Ian have a good time. Both kids gave the empanada truck the school had brought in for the event a big thumbs up.

Proud of both boys, I shared a prom picture the next day with my small group of friends and followers on Twitter, writing, “When my kid with autism didn’t have friends or a girlfriend to join him at the prom, his big brother took the day off work and went with him. Two awesome kids.”

Shortly after I posted that tweet, we drove to upstate New York to go camping for the weekend. With spotty internet access at the campsite, my phone only came to life when we drove into town for dinner. My jaw dropped when I saw the responses to the prom photo. Ten thousand people from a variety of backgrounds and political affiliations had liked and retweeted the picture of my kids. They told me about their siblings or children with disabilities, while others simply offered congratulations. Some replied with pictures of their own disabled children with their siblings at prom.

Out there in the woods, surrounded by some tall trees and ticks, I felt the embrace of other caregivers, families and kind people everywhere. And that support came at just the right time.

I won the lottery with my two boys, but sometimes being a parent to a disabled child can be rather exhausting. With graduation around the corner, I can’t help but reflect on our history in public education, including those tough years when we wrangled with school administrators to properly educate my son. While his teachers were always kind and well-meaning, special education is underfunded, and smart kids with autism can be particularly difficult to integrate into public schools. Some of those wounds from our school struggles never fully healed.

While [my son’s] teachers were always kind and well-meaning, special education is underfunded, and smart kids with autism can be particularly difficult to integrate into public schools. Some of those wounds from our school struggles never fully healed. Those sensitivities are exacerbated now as we deal with graduation rituals and parties that are often inaccessible to kids with disabilities and focus on honoring kids in AP classes and varsity sports. There’s no award for the kids who are kind or who overcome obstacles. When Ian left the hospital last spring after a three-day stay to recover from a dangerous reaction to epilepsy medicine, he insisted on going to school the next day with his mouth still grotesquely puffed out. There should be some recognition for that.

The support of strangers on the internet helped me make peace with the past, so I can tackle our next challenges with greater optimism and hope.

In a couple of weeks, we’ll attend graduation day. We’ll cheer extra hard for kids like Ian — kids who are hardworking and often don’t get celebrated in the same ways their peers do. I already made a mental note to bring my big purse that day stuffed full with tissues.

Good Person/Hero of the Week: NH Officer George Morales

 This week's Good person/hero of the week is a Manchester, New Hampshire police officer who changed a bad situation and made it into a good one for a young man who stole some goods from a store (turns out the kid was hungry). The officer took care of him. Here's the story>  

Manchester NH Police  Facebook page

 May 25, 2021 

Someone recently shared a very positive Facebook post with us concerning one of our police officers. We were so pleased to hear about his kind deed we decided to share it as well and give him some well deserved recognition.

Officer George Morales was working a detail at Market Basket on Elm St when he saw a young man with a backpack leave the store in a hurry without purchasing anything. He stopped the man and found that he had some unpaid food in his bag. There was no alcohol or any other items that would be indicative of criminal activities. Rather than charge him with a crime, he pulled out his debit card.

"It was then apparent to me, this was just a young person going through hard times. He was just hungry," says Officer Morales. "I then offered to purchase the items of food for him, I asked him to please apologize to the store manager. He then began to cry, and agreed. The store manager was satisfied with the resolution, and we then parted ways on good terms."

We hope this selfless act made a difference in this young man's life. Thank you Officer Morales, great work!

Good Person/Hero of the Week: School run mum pulls 91-year-old woman from burning bungalow

 This week's good person/hero is a woman who was walking her son home from school when she noticed a fire in an a home and ran over to see if anyone was inside. She saved a life. Here's the story from BBC News>>>> 

FAMILY PHOTO/BBC

image captionLauren Mottram (right) said she hoped someone would do the same for her

School run mum pulls 91-year-old woman from burning bungalow

BBC News/March 5, 2021

A mother broke away from the school run to pull a 91-year-old woman out of a burning bungalow. Lauren Mottram, 29, was walking with her son on Thursday morning when she spotted flames coming from Muriel Heathcote's home in Blackwell, Derbyshire, England. She ran into the smoke-filled building, found Mrs. Heathcote and pulled her out. Ms. Mottram's bravery won her praise from the fire service and gratitude from the woman's family.  

 "When I got through the door it was just completely full of smoke - it just hit you straight away in your throat and eyes," she said. "I couldn't see her but she was shouting, 'help me, help me', and I managed to get to her. "She was trying to get out of the living room but she couldn't touch her walking frame because it was too hot." After pulling her to safety, Ms. Mottram knocked on the door of the neighboring bungalow in Alfreton Road to alert the woman inside that the fire could spread. 

 "I spoke to the fire brigade manager afterwards. She thanked me and said how brave it was of me to run in," she said. "But it was just natural instinct really. I'd do the same again and hope someone would do it for me if I needed help." 

DERBYSHIRE POLICE

image captionThe bungalow was badly damaged by the fire

Mrs Heathcote was taken to hospital to be treated for the effects of smoke inhalation but is due to be discharged later. Her rescuer was also checked over by hospital staff as a precaution. 

Mrs Heathcote's grandson Lee Stuchbury said: "She was willing to put her life at risk to run in and save my Nan. "There's not too many about who would do that nowadays. We're really proud of her." A joint police and fire service investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. 

Good People of the Week: Capitol Policeman Leads Mob Away from Senate / Lesbian Daughter Turns in Her Mother for Crimes

Today's "Good person of the week" is really about 2 heroes. One faced a mob and saved many lives, and the other saw the criminal behavior of her own mother and turned her in. 

GOOD PERSON #1  It takes a LOT of courage to face an angry mob yielding weapons, especially when you're only one man.  That's what Quick-thinking Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman did during the Insurrection at the Capitol Building last week. The CBS Video is below. He is a true American. He is a hero (not the criminals who invaded the Capitol)

GOOD PERSON #2   It takes a lot of courage to turn in your own mother for criminal behavior. But that's exactly what happened when a lesbian daughter in Massachusetts did when she learned her mother took part in the criminal insurrection at the Capitol this month.  Bravo to the daughter!  Help this hero afford college by donating to her college fund. She's a whole lot smarter than her stupid, criminal of a mother.  (and there's a side note and story at the end, about the rioters admitting they planned to capture and kill politicians on Capitol Hill)    HERE are the Stories: 

#1 How a lone Capitol Police officer lured rioters away from the Senate chambers

By Scottie Andrew, CNN

Updated 8:53 AM ET, Tue January 12, 2021

A US Capitol Police officer bounded up the stairs of the Capitol building, a growing mob of insurrectionists behind him. Using himself as "bait," he lured the rioters away from the entrance to the Senate chambers, where lawmakers were still debating an objection to Arizona's Electoral College vote count.

That man is Officer Eugene Goodman. Footage from Wednesday's attack on the Capitol shows him leading the mob of Trump supporters in the opposite direction of the Senate chambers after he noticed it was unguarded.

Officer Eugene Goodman herded the rioters away from the Senate Chambers at 2:14 p.m. Senators were alerted that protesters had breached the Capitol building just one minute earlier, according to CNN's timeline of events from Wednesday's riot. Vice President Mike Pence wouldn't be evacuated from the Senate until 2:30 p.m.

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#2 DAUGHTER EXPOSES HER RIGHT-WING MOTHER AT CAPITOL INSURRECTION

Newsweek 1/8/21

Helena Duke identified her mother, Therese Duke, her aunt Annie Lorenz, and her uncle Richard Lorenz in the clip as those included in a group of Trump supporters confronting a Black woman. 

“Hi this is the liberal lesbian of the family who has been kicked out multiple times for her views and for going to BLM protests to care what happens to me,” Helena Duke tweeted on Thursday before naming her family members. Helena Duke seized the opportunity to shame her mother, who she claims is a long-standing Trump supporter. "Her actions were appalling and I did not think she could possibly stoop this low," the 18-year-old told Newsweek. "I do find her participation in the insurrection extremely hypocritical as she has kicked me out of the house for attending BLM protests."

A LinkedIn profile for Therese Duke marks UMass Memorial Health Care as her employer, and Helena Duke also confirmed in Twitter replies that her mom worked for the medical center. “Over the past 24 hours we have received numerous expressions of concern through social media regarding a UMass Memorial caregiver who may have been involved in this week’s violent events at the nation’s capitol,” the provider wrote. “The employee in question is no longer a part of our organization.”

Help Helena Duke pay for collegehttps://www.gofundme.com/f/help-helena-duke-pay-for-college?sharetype=teams&member=7963986&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=p_na+share-sheet&rcid=8d69226f96464be9b2b2d96c3479105e

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SIDE NOTE: CAPITOL RIOTERS MEANT 'TO CAPTURE AND ASSASSINATE' Federal prosecutors offered an ominous new assessment of last week’s siege of the U.S. Capitol, saying in a court filing that rioters intended “to capture and assassinate elected officials.” The filing asks a judge to detain Jacob Chansley, the Arizona man and QAnon conspiracy theorist who was famously photographed wearing horns. This comes alongside the arrest of a retired firefighter amid allegations that he threw a fire extinguisher at U.S. Capitol Police officers. (Source; Huff.Post)

Good Person of the Week: Homeless man rescued all the animals at a shelter after it caught on fire

 This week's good person of the week award goes to a big-hearted homeless man who saw a
fire break out in an animal shelter when no one else was around, and rescued the dogs and cats within!  Here's the story.

A homeless man rescued all the animals at a shelter after it caught on fire  

Dec. 29, 2020 By Minyvonne Burke , MSNBC 

(photo: Keith Walker rescued several cats and dogs from a fire in the W-Underdogs animal shelter kitchen in Atlanta on Dec. 18.Courtesy W-Underdogs) 

A homeless man is being hailed as a hero after he risked his life to rescue several dogs and cats from a fire at an animal shelter. The man, Keith Walker, rushed inside the W-Underdogs shelter after a fire broke out Dec. 18, the facility said in a Facebook post. 

 "Tonight we thank our guardian angels. The homeless man that ran into our burning house and rescued our animals," it said. "Our animals are safe and thanks to the incredible response from the community, everyone is settled and safe warm and secure." 

 The facility said its owner was out picking up supply donations when it got a call that the shelter was on fire. Atlanta fire officials said a homeless man rushed to the scene "and helped bring the animals to safety," W-Underdogs wrote. "And once it became clear that the house was uninhabitable volunteers mobilized to relocate the animals safely to the new facility. In the midst of our misfortune we rest tonight with nothing but gratitude for the community that continuously supports us," it said. 

 The facility said it often provides food and shelter to Walker's dog, Bravo. 

It is organizing efforts to help Walker.A GoFundMe that was set up had raised more than $36,000 by Tuesday Dec. 29. (By Dec. 30 it raised $55,000). 

 "We have received a flood of requests on how people can help Mr. Keith Walker, the hero who saved our animals from the fire. Rest assured we have Mr. Walker's best interests at heart, and are exploring how to best manage donations that have come in on his behalf," the facility said Monday on Facebook. 

 Walker told CNN that he was "nervous" to run into the burning building but that he knew he had to save the trapped animals. "I was really scared to go in there with all that smoke. But God put me there to save those animals," he said. 

"If you love a dog, you can love anyone in the world. My dog is my best friend, and I wouldn't be here without him, so I knew I had to save all those other dogs." 

 Officials deemed the blaze an electrical fire, W-Underdogs said in a statement. The shelter was left uninhabitable, but all of the animals were taken to a new facility.

Good Person of the Week: Yolie the Artist Makes SPCA Christmas Cards (how to get them now!)

If you're looking for a really fun set of holiday cards that will benefit an animal shelter, Look no further! Our friend Yolie Aviles is a super-talented artist and we've known her for many years. She has designed this year's holiday cards for the Annapolis animal shelter managed by the  Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

About Yolie: Yolie is definitely the "Good person of the Week" for many, many reasons. She takes care and loves everyone. She was our neighbor for 10 wonderful years before she moved. She's not only a great artist, but she's a spectacular cook!  We've had many of her homemade meals (and she makes a mean margarita), and enjoyed many get togethers. She also made us a personal holiday card (that had Tyler, Franklin and Dolly on it), and several other pieces.

Card Set Description:  Featuring delightful designs from Art by Yolie Aviles, these holiday cards are the perfect thing to send to loved ones who you may not be able to see this holiday season!

A set of cards is $15.00 and comes with 10 cards- 2 of each design. 

TO ORDER GO TO: https://tinyurl.com/y57zu5bc 

Sales benefit the SPCA, so your purchase helps us care for our homeless animals.

Available for delivery or pickup! Pick up locations are Paws at the Mall (located in Westfield Annapolis Mall near Pottery Barn) or the SPCA of Anne Arundel County (1815 Bay Ridge Ave, Annapolis MD).

You can also go to the long-form URL to order:  https://spca-of-anne-arundel-county.square.site/product/spca-christmas-cards/1079?cs=true&fbclid=IwAR0G02y8yo9TqSnPrbhsQE1nHT-E-nBWi3bd7yqQQOfsNYHsw1QDqhDHiRQ