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Tag: APP Everyday Heroes

  • Child cancer survivor starts nonprofit

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    DURHAM, N.C. — Harper Harrell knows first-hand the importance of having a place to stay near the hospital while enduring extended treatment. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 8 years old and had to undergo two years of treatment. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Harper Harrell started her own nonprofit called “Harper’s Home” to help house families with children enduring extended treatment for life-threatening illnesses for free near Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center

    • Harrell was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 8 years old and had to undergo two years of treatment

    • The goal is to build eight homes on their property that’s just a couple of miles away from the hospital, but they are currently renting two homes while they wait for the city to approve their permits to start building 

    • Studies show more than half the kids in extended treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital come from over 50 miles away
    • Kids sometimes need to get to the ER within 30 minutes if they spike a fever and if not, their condition could become deadly


    “When I was in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Duke Children’s Hospital, we met so many families who didn’t have a place to stay,” Harrell said.

    Fortunately for Harrell and her family they didn’t live far from Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center and never worried about housing during her stay in the hospital. But she knows that’s not the case for everyone. 

    “They were living out of suitcases and hotels, and there was really no place for them to go,” Harrell said.

    That’s why she started her own nonprofit called “Harper’s Home.” The goal of Harper’s Home is to build eight homes in close proximity to the hospital for families with children fighting life-threatening illnesses to stay free of charge. 

    “Being able to stay here and having a roof over their head and not having to worry about it while a child is in treatment,” Harrell said.

    Currently, they are renting two homes three miles away from the hospital as they wait for the city to approve their permits to start building homes on their property. Harper’s mother, Heather Hindin, said renting these homes were only possible because of the giving community.

    “The way I see it is that we, Durham, the city, have kind of a responsibility as the place where Duke Children’s lives to open our arms and embrace the people who are coming here scared, uncertain,” Hindin said.

    Studies show more than half the kids in extended treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital come from over 50 miles away. Those same kids sometimes need to get to the emergency room within 30 minutes if they spike a fever and if not, their condition could become deadly. 

    “When we talk about being two miles or three miles from Duke Children’s, it’s not just convenient. It is in fact, a critical part of treatment,” Hindin said.

    It’s Harrell’s goal to make the lives of families a little bit easier, one home at a time.

    “Everybody deserves an equal opportunity to be able to get to their local world-class hospital or travel to a world-class hospital,” Harrell said.

    If you’d like to help Harrell grow her vision and help a family in need, you can donate at the Harper’s Home website.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • ‘Dignity Drive‘ helps shelters across Mecklenburg County

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman is using her time and money to help tackle homelessness in her community.

    Tracy Grant bought and collected more than 200 pairs of underwear for the homeless women in Mecklenburg County. She laid them out at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Charlotte as part of their “Dignity Drive” while explaining why she chose these items.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tracy Grant donates hundreds of pairs of underwear, socks and hygiene products to homeless shelters

    • The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte says these items are often forgotten and can provide a sense of dignity to those looking to get back on their feet

    • After seeing the need, Grant is making this a quarterly drive

    • You can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte


    “We don’t think about it, but underwear is essential to women for one thing. It’s part of good health, part of good hygiene,” Grant said.

    She said, it’s not something most people think to donate, but can make a big difference. “I think having clean underwear is just what helps boost their self-confidence, and no one should have to go without,” Grant said.

    Along with underwear, Tracy has dozens of individually packaged hygiene products, including sanitary napkins and body wipes.

    It’s not just the women’s shelter. Grant also dropped off over 250 dozen pairs of socks at the Roof Above Howard Levine Men’s Shelter just weeks prior. It’s another item that’s rarely donated, Grant said, but one that’s important.

    “Some people like to sleep in socks, and your feet are one of the most important things on your body. So we need to take care of our feet,” Grant said.

    She explained these things could help people feel dignified while they find housing and eventually a job and a home.

    “I’ve had a lot of people I know that have had success,” Grant said. “So I know it works. It just takes time. It just takes patience. It just takes giving. It just takes conversations, and it just takes grace.”

    The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte Area commander Major Andrew Wiley says he sees the change through these acts of kindness.

    “We’ve just in the last two weeks had two of our residents who have secured jobs,” he said. “Nobody’s thinking about the things that we’re seeing here today. And so this is incredibly exciting for me to see an individual who saw a need and was willing to step up and do something about it, and a need that many times is forgotten.”

    After realizing the great need in the community, Grant has decided to make her “Dignity Drive” a quarterly one to help shelters across Mecklenburg County.

    “We can all be a servant. We can all give back, whether it’s your time, whether it’s your resources. No matter what it is, I think that we all have something to give to someone else,” Grant said.

    Grant’s next donation collection will be in November. If you’d like to help, you can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte.

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    Britni McDonald

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  • Nurse Karla Pedersen recognized for her volunteer work

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    PALM HARBOR, Fla. — A Pinellas County nurse’s sense of compassion makes her great at her job at HCA Florida Northside Hospital.

    It’s also the reason the hospital recognized Karla Pedersen for her volunteer work away from the hospital.

    What You Need To Know

    • Karla Pedersen works weekend overnights at HCA Florida Northside hospital in Pinellas County

    • The hospital recognized her for donating the most volunteer hours to the community

    • Pedersen grooms and walks horses and other animals at the A.R.K. in Palm Harbor

    • The organization provides animal therapy to special needs children


    Pedersen works weekend overnights in the neuro ICU at the hospital. She mostly cares for stroke and brain injury patients.

    “We get them where they are at the worst moment of their lives,” she said. “I’ve had bad moments in my life and I’m able to give back some of the compassion that’s been given to me.”

    The hospital recently recognized Pedersen for her volunteer work. She had donated the most hours to the community of any staff member.

    Pedersen volunteers a couple of mornings a week at the A.R.K-Animals Reaching Kids outreach at Live Oaks Bible Church in Palm Harbor. The organization has horses, donkeys, miniature horses and even a cow. They provide animal therapy for special needs children.

    She spends most of her time grooming animals, like a horse named Gabel.

    “We groom all the large animals the same way,” she said. “It keeps them healthy. It keeps them clean.” 

    The grooming also keeps them calm.

    “Some of these special needs kids, when they see a large animal, it makes them nervous, so we need to teach these guys to be calm.”

    Pederson usually comes to A.R.K. early in the morning after she has worked all night at the hospital. It’s a great stress reliever.

    “But then I come here on Monday mornings and it’s my decompress time,” said Pederson, who added that her decompression time includes taking the horses for a walk along a wooded trail.

    She started volunteering at A.R.K. as a project for her homeschooled teenage son.

    “It’s something that I do with my teenager. It gives us common ground. It gives us a place to do something that gives us something that we both enjoy.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Performing arts teacher donates kidney to assistant principal

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    FUQUAY-VARINA, N.C. — A Wake County assistant principal now has a new kidney, all thanks to one of the teachers at his school.

    What You Need To Know

    • Assistant Principal Ernest Devane has suffered from kidney disease for a couple of years and was in need of a kidney transplant

    • Kristin Lundberg, a teacher at the same school, matched with Devane and was able to be a donor

    • The surgery was a success, and both are now recovering


    Ernest Devane, the assistant principal at Fuquay-Varina Middle School, received a kidney last month from Kristin Lundberg, the school’s performing arts teacher.

    Devane has suffered from kidney disease for the last couple of years and was looking for a donor.

    Lundberg decided to test to see if she was a match and, luckily, she was. 

    “I was blessed to have a person with a kidney match, my kidney, a direct match, right down the hall from me,” Devane said. 

    “It’s all just kind of meant to be,” said Lundberg, who also shares a birthday with Devane. 

    The successful surgery took place at the end of September. They are both recovering well. 

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    Amy Elliott

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  • Julie Taylor loves to serve others in her hometown of Mulberry

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    MULBERRY, Fla. — A Mulberry woman has become a beloved figure in her city. Julie Taylor is involved in many good causes in Mulberry.

    On a recent evening, Taylor was at the Studio 37 community center in Mulberry, making sure the volunteers at the Save Our Youth program had everything set up for the children who were coming for the after-school program also known as SOY.

    “What about the sign-in sheets? Are all of those checked?” said Taylor to the volunteers. The snacks for the children included juice packs, and chips were ready too.

    “So, we are just getting set up so when they come in they can just sit out here. So, when the bell rings they won’t have to worry about it. Just go right on in,” she said. The children got their snacks outside while they sat on chairs under the former bank building’s drive-through area.

    Taylor started the SOY program years ago so children could get some extra academic help and wholesome activities.

    “We want our young people to be good citizens. We also want our young people to be educated,” said Taylor. “That’s one of the main goals, that they get a good quality education. If you have a good education, there is nothing that can stop you from doing what you want to do.”

    Taylor said she has many faithful volunteers for the program. “We could not have a good SOY program without the children and the parents. They want to learn, and that’s the main thing.”

    Taylor is also known for giving monthly community updates to city commissioners at their meeting.

    “Well, Ms. Taylor is our ace in the hole,” said Commissioner Neil Devine. “She’s very politically active, and she really doesn’t know it. Ms. Taylor is known everywhere in the city of Mulberry.”

    Taylor is also president of the Concerned Citizens of Mulberry organization. It helps run community cultural events and big back to school events to provide children with school supplies.

    Taylor loves her city. “Everybody knows everybody,” she said. “I went to school here. Go to church here. We go to Walmart together. Everybody knows everybody. It’s a small town, but it does great things. And the people here love each other.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Triad dental hygienist finds passion volunteering overseas

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. – Sarah Cline has combined her dentistry skills with her passion for volunteering to help people in need as far away as Africa.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sarah Cline has volunteered her dentistry skills to help those in Mississippi, Africa and the Triad 

    • Cline went to Togo in West Africa and did a week’s worth of volunteer work 

    • She cared for some patients who had never seen a dentist

    • The experience has changed her life in wanting to help those who are in need


    A dental hygienist, Cline helped out recently at the Servant Center, a nonprofit in Greensboro that was holding its Triad Stand Down event. It’s a way for veterans in the community to get free haircuts and dental, vision and hearing checkups.

    Her volunteering spirit began with a trip overseas.

    “I went to Togo in West Africa, which is a small little skinny country beside Ghana. And we did a week’s worth of like dental mission work. So we went out to multiple like feeding centers, schools,” Cline said.

    For a week she treated hundreds of people, children and adults, who had never seen a dentist.

    “You think you’re going over there to help, but they’re actually helping you in a different place in life,” Cline said.

    She said the experience changed her, inspiring her to go back a second time.

    “You see like how they’ve grown and everything. And it’s just a huge change. Like the first year you see them. They’ve never had a toothbrush or toothpaste. I mean they use like branches off a tree there,” Cline said.

    That experience inspired her to bring that same service back home.

    “Both my parents are veterans, so it resonates with me. They served our country, so many times so I think they should have access to those things,” Cline said.

    A Mississippi native, Cline helped at free clinics in her home state and now in Africa and the Triad, making sure no one is left behind.

    “Back in Mississippi, we had a free clinic in Jackson. So, on Saturdays I was on the board. So, I would go just about two Saturdays a month, and we would clean and take care of people who were homeless or fresh out of prison,” she said.

    Cline said her goal is the same wherever she’s helping out – to give people a reason to smile.

    “I love being able to help people that are in need of it because it’s really important,” Cline said. “Everyone needs it. So everyone deserves a chance to get things looked at and checked.”

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • ‘Living with a purpose’: Ohioan starts nonprofit to help prevent youth violence

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    COLUMBUS, Ohio — To help combat a rise in youth violence, one former gang member is using his experience to help steer some of the community’s most vulnerable toward a safer path.

    What You Need To Know

    • The nonprofit Ours Brothers Keepers provides support and resources to at-risk youth in Columbus to help prevent violence

    • The organization was founded by a former member of the Short North Posse gang after his release from prison as a way to give back and steer some of the community’s most vulnerable down a safer path

    • The nonprofit provides participants between the ages of 7 and 24 a variety of services like food, shelter, mentoring and an opportunity to learn life skills

    “This is a dream come true,” said Wesley Moore. “It’s like getting the lottery.”

    Wesley said he founded the nonprofit Ours Brothers Keepers to provide support and resources he never had while growing up.

    “I know how it feels to be at risk,” he said. “I know how it feels to not have a home, not have a kitchen table. So this is something that I try to provide for every youth who is going through the same similar story.”

    Wesley said that he and his brother Markey were raised surrounded by drugs and violence in Columbus.

    “You didn’t think nothing over it,” he said. “You didn’t think nothing was wrong with it. You know, most people, when we came out the house hungry and stuff, it was, ‘Here get some drugs.’”

    As he got older, Wesley joined the local gang.

    “So you start growing up, you see people,” he said. “That’s what you think; that’s what you’re supposed to do.”

    At age 18, a federal grand jury indicted Wesley and more than 40 other original members of the Short North Posse.

    He served 15 years in prison.

    “I pointed the fingers at everybody, like man, I can’t believe they got me put in jail,” Wesley said. “And so, like, after five years, I was like, I realized I put myself in here. I start realizing I made the choice. I made the decision.”

    He said he used the time while incarcerated to educate himself and said the experience gave him the vision for the nonprofit.

    “I don’t run from my past,” Wesley said. “It’s what God put me through. Had me walk this way to understand who I am today. So I’m thankful for it.”

    He said he drove trucks for 10 years after his release to earn the money to buy the East Columbus properties where his vision would turn into reality.

    “A lot of these kids are so in survival mode to where we break them in to show love or support,” Wesley said.

    Ours Brothers Keepers officially became a nonprofit organization five years ago to provide services missing in the community. He said they have received some financial support from the Columbus Mayor’s Office and the Franklin County Office on Aging, but most of what they provide is paid from their own pockets, earned through a construction company the brothers also operate.  

    “We don’t know nothing too much about grants and stuff,” Wesley said.

    Instead, he said they stretch a shoestring budget to provide for those between the ages of seven and 24 who show up daily, referred to the program through court systems, parents, social media and word of mouth.

    “My grandmother used to make a big, giant pot of spaghetti and feed 100 people, so I know we can make whatever little bit of money we had to make sure 65 youth stay safe and violence free,” he said.

    Besides mentoring kids and teens, the nonprofit provides several support services, such as food, clothes, skills training, temporary and transitional housing, and a community engagement center with a computer lab.

    At 15-years-old, David Price Jr. is one teen helping build some of the transitional housing through his participation in the program.

    “Teach us how to, like, save our money, teach us how to trade, put up drywall and keeping us safe,” he said.

    They are also learning how to earn an income. The kids are paid $15 an hour for their work helping bring Markey’s plans to life.

    “I always said, once I get older, I want to own homes and get in construction, so I’d never be homeless,” Markey said.

    The young adults are also paid for their work helping seniors in the community with their lawn care. The maintenance is free for the seniors and a way to provide the kids a sense of purpose.

    The young adults are also paid for their work helping seniors in the community with their lawn care. (Spectrum News 1/Jenna Jordan)

    “Put the guns down, pick up a check,” Wesley said. “Now the kids are like, ‘I don’t want no guns, I’m trying to get some money.’”

    Wesley said participants may not have weapons, which is one way the nonprofit is having a positive impact on community violence.

    “The violence will really go down and stay down, because the kids know they got an opportunity to make some money to be able to feed their family,” Wesley said. “A lot of that $300 go a long way at their house.”

    He said some of the most violent youth in the city are involved with Ours Brothers Keepers, including members of the Kia Boys, teaching them to own up to their bad choices and take responsibility.

    “I can honestly say, they ain’t stolen a car in two years,” Wesley said. “And the cars that were stolen that they did, I made sure they paid back the victims.”

    Wesley said his goal is to provide 100 kids, like Semaj Burgess, a place to go and something to do year-round.

    “Taught me just how to be a better person, how to better myself,” Burgess said while pushing a lawnmower.

    This is the 14-year-old’s second year in the program, and he is proud of his growth, learning the importance of brotherhood and community.

    “During school, like, I’m not gonna lie, I was getting into a lot of trouble,” Burgess said. “Just not knowing how to communicate with people. Or how to like treat people.”

    He said his parents’ love that he is getting something out of the experience and being productive.

    “They’re telling me how much I been changing since I been coming here, at least,” Burgess said. “Hearing that coming from my parents, it just means something more.”

    He now has a new focus on the future and the path to get there.

    “I have a purpose in life that’s way bigger than just fighting,” he said.

    Wesley hopes to continue living his dream by having a positive impact and making the community safer for everyone.

    “And I think that’s very important cause that’s our motto: living with a purpose,” he said.

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    Jenna Jordan

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  • Triad man raises money, awareness about heart disease

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — People gathered this weekend to raise awareness and money to fight cardiovascular disease, which the America Heart Association says is the leading cause of death in the United States.

    The Triad Heart Walk was held at Triad Park in Kernersville on Saturday. It’s one of six Heart Walks held across the state each year.

    Greg Stump served as the chairperson of this year’s walk and said his community connections helped to recruit companies and organizations to take part in the walk and raise money.

    Stump is a vice president with the Budd Group, a facilities services company. His company is a sponsor, and employees take part in the walk.

    “I cannot count the number of times that we’ve had employees that have had to be taken into care because of high blood pressure or what became later learned is a heart attack. And, it’s a need for our employees to be able to know where they can get health care and how having health care can prevent the heart diseases that the American Heart Association is focused on working with,” he said.  

    It’s not just a professional endeavor for Stump. It’s personal.

    His mother suffered a stroke in 2009.

    “The prognosis was not good,” Stump said.

    She spent eight weeks in a hospital, but Stump said his dad got her the care she needed. 

    “After about three and a half months or so, she walked out of the rehab center and returned home and of course, she is still with us today,” he said. Stump said she has even written a book about her experience with having a stroke.

    “The research and work that’s done by the Heart Association was a part of her recovery and understanding how to prevent this from happening again,” he said.

    Stump said his family started participating in Heart Walks about 15 years ago. The importance of heart health hit the family again, however, when two of his wife’s cousins died in recent years in their early 60s.

    “It was really a wake-up call for us to think about how, you know, we can do all the right things, but we just don’t know if we haven’t gone and sought the right medical care,” Stump said. 

    Now, he’s trying to do all he can to educate and protect his team and others.

    “One thing that we want to do is not only be working to provide healthy lifestyles for our employees but also bring people together as a community.

    Stump said people who signed up for the Heart Walk had access to a video teaching CPR skills. That training and education is a big part of the American Heart Association’s efforts.

    The organization says CPR can double or triple the chances of survival. 

    Stump has also been involved in a campaign called “Doctor, it’s been too long.”

    The message is simple: if you feel bad, you need to go to the doctor. If not, you don’t know what you’re dealing with.

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    Justin Quesinberry

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  • 13-year-old Chloe Walker has a passion for volunteer work

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County middle school student is serving her community in more than one way. Thirteen-year-old Chloe Walker volunteers at an organization making sure school children don’t go hungry. She is also helping children of all abilities get a chance to learn how to dance.

    What You Need To Know

    • Chloe Walker has trained and performed as a dancer for years

    • Walker likes to volunteer at Dancing for a Difference in Brandon with special needs students

    • She also volunteers with the kidsPACK organization in Polk County

    • Walker attends Stambaugh Middle School in Auburndale


    On a recent evening, Walker was at the Dancing for a Difference studio in Brandon. She was helping founder and director Sara Battaglia with a group of special needs children. Walker has spent years in dancing classes and performing dance.

    “I like dancing because I feel like I can express myself whether I am speaking of just doing it through movements. It’s really helped me grow into the person I am today,” she said.

    Walker has a great time volunteering with the special needs students.

    “I like working with kids with special abilities, so they know they aren’t left out and they are no different from any other kid,” she said.

    Chloe and her mother, Holly Walker, started something called Chloe’s Creative Movers Fund. It provides a dance scholarship for a child who can’t afford classes.

    “The person we sponsor is anonymous, so I don’t know who it is,” said Walker. “But it is so good to know I am making a change and an impact in my community.”

    Chloe Walker has also been a volunteer for several years with kidsPACK in Polk County. It provides take-home meals to thousands of low-income children. This year she got people to donate nearly 900 Pop-Tarts to kidsPACK.

    “I see of lot of myself in Chloe,” said Battaglia. “She has a lot of the same heart and mission that I had at her age. I always wanted to give back.”

    Walker attends Stambaugh Middle School in Auburndale. She was recently crowned National United Junior Miss 2025-26.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • ‘It calms me down’: Dog therapy helps those with memory loss diseases

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman and dog lover discovered how helpful therapy pets can be for those suffering from memory loss completely by accident. 

    Joan Wright first found this form of therapy when it helped her father. She said he had a larger-than-life personality until showing signs of dementia. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Dog therapy is shown to improve mood and facilitate social interaction among dementia patients, according to Alzheimer’s Association

    • The CEO of N.C. memory loss center says pet therapy provides connection and engagement that helps patients’ quality of life

    • Dogs used in dog therapy go through intensive behavioral training to prepare them to respond safely in unfamiliar settings like a medical office

    • You can coordinate a dog therapy visit by visiting this website 


    “One day I noticed that when he was with his Cavalier King Charles [Spaniel] dog on his lap, he was a lot calmer and that calmed me down. And I would sit down, and we would have dog talk because that’s what he would be able to talk about,” Wright said.

    She takes her two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Oliver and Brodie, into Memory & Movement Charlotte for a special visit. Staff members rush to greet these furry friends.

    “One doesn’t want the other to get any more attention,” Wright said.

    These playful pups are here specifically for people like Laurie Purvis. She was just diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease this year.

    “Finding out I had Alzheimer’s just like absolutely blew my mind. I was so upset,” Purvis said. But she says interacting with a dog helps her to relax.

    “It calms me down to sit there and pet the dog,” Purvis said.

    It’s something her sister and now caregiver, Kathleen Purvis, says helps her too.

    “My dog, you know, curls in and makes me feel better when I’m scared to death about all of this,” she said.

    People with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia are known to lose their memories and have trouble communicating. But dog therapy is showing promise in making them feel calm and connected. Those stories are why Wright does this work.

    The CEO of Memory & Movement Charlotte, Janet LeClair, said this kind of connection is more important than you’d think.

    “Even with pet therapy, there is a strong element of socialization. And so feeling that connection to people, to engagement is probably the most important thing for people and for their quality of life,” LeClair said.

    “It’s not about sort of curing the disease. It’s about creating moments of joy when they’re around a dog,” Wright said.

    Wright said Oliver and Brodie are professionals. They go through intensive behavioral training to prepare them to respond safely in unfamiliar settings, like a medical office. She said if you or someone who know wants to have a dog therapy visit, you can click here.

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    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Foster parents Aaron and Jolene Slavik adopt five children

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — A Pasco County couple has adopted five children over the past three years. Jolene and Aaron Slavik adopted the children after taking in dozens of foster children. 

    The first child the couple adopted was a boy who they had taken in as a foster child.

    The adoption was finalized in 2022. That boy is now 14-years-old. Then, they adopted three young siblings in 2023. Finally, they adopted a little girl in 2024.

    “Then I said there is no more room in the inn, and we are done,” Aaron said with a smile and a laugh.

    What You Need To Know

    • Aaron and Jolene Slavik have been foster parents to dozens of children

    • Their two biological children encouraged the foster home idea

    • The couple decided to start adopting foster children several years ago

    • The Slaviks stay very busy caring for the special needs of their five adopted children


    The couple has a very busy schedule keeping up with the special needs of the children. The children have various physical and other issues that require trips to specialists. Aaron says he keeps up with all the appointments by using an online calendar.

    “I haven’t been bored in seven years. I don’t remember what that’s like anymore,” said Aaron.

    The Slaviks try to keep a very structured environment in their home. That includes special exercises for the children.

    “We do occupational therapy with our children to help regulate their system,” said Jolene. “We have learned through our OT (occupational therapist) to do different exercises that get all their large motor skills going to regulate their systems. Because if the children are dysregulated when they go to school today their brain is not going to be set to learn,” she said.

    The Slaviks have pictures of many of their former foster children on a wall along the stairs leading to the second floor. One of the reasons they chose to adopt was because of the heartbreak of the foster children leaving their home.

    “All of our foster kids we considered ours as well, said Aaron. “And we loved them like they were ours. We never went on a vacation without them.”

    Jolene said it was a special moment when adoptions were finalized. “Once you are told they are yours it’s like your heart just explodes.”

    The couple’s two biological children were 11 and 14-years-old when they started fostering children. They encouraged their parents to take in foster children and then to adopt.

    “And because they came to us and asked us, it became a family ministry for us,” said Jolene. The biological children are now adults. “Our daughter does their hair, and our son comes and brings them to the park or brings them to Disney.”

    “We have looked at this like it was a higher calling for us,” said Aaron. “It was something I never planned on. I planned on two kids and being done. But it’s kind of that old phrase,” he said. “Man makes plans and God laughs.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Horace West leads Haines City youth football programs for decades

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    HAINES CITY, Fla. — Youth league football is a big deal in the Polk County community of Haines City.

    There is one name that is synonymous with that. It is Horace West. The former mayor of Haines City has dedicated decades to making sure young athletes get a chance to play the sport they love.

    West is now affiliated with the Haines City Vipers, a youth football program he started. West got his start in local youth football by starting the Haines City Rattlers in 1991.

    Over the years, he has started about 20 other football programs in other local communities. He also started a youth football conference with dozens of teams.

    These days, West is more of an advisor rather than a coach.

    “I’m old enough to be everybody’s dad or grandfather, so I just give them advice,” said West.

    West has helped to mentor several players who ended up playing in the NFL. That includes Los Angeles Chargers’ safety Derwin James. For West, the goal of football is bigger than just athletics.

    “Because we are trying to teach young boys how to be young men. So that’s the key,” he said.

    West’s coaches put their players through tough practices and hope for success in games. But respect is more important.

    “The coaches talk to them like drill sergeants, but they understand they can’t use profanity, touch them in any harsh way or anything like that,” West said.

    West said he wants to make sure that the football program has longevity. So, he is always looking for new community members to get involved.

    “My philosophy is that you have to recreate yourself. You have to reinvent yourself every so many years,” he said. “Because if you don’t, the program dies with the people who ran it.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Sean Sweat runs Lake Hollingsworth with flags to honor veterans

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    LAKELAND, Fla. — A Lakeland man is a beloved familiar sight around Lake Hollingsworth. Sean Sweat stands out for a patriotic reason.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sean Sweat is a firefighter and Army veteran

    • He has been running around Lake Hollingsworth in Lakeland with a flag for 15 years to honor veterans

    • Sweat starting running with the flag to honor his old platoon leader who was killed by an IED in Afghanistan

    • Would you like to nominate an Everyday Hero? Click here.


    For the past 15 years, Sweat has been running around the lake with a big American flag. Sometimes he also runs with the flags for the various branches of the military. He does it to honor veterans.

    Sweat said he starting his flag runs around Lake Hollingsworth to honor his old platoon leader, Capt. Josh Byers, who was killed by an (improvised explosive device) IED in Afghanistan.

    “The freedoms we have in this country, people take for granted. They don’t realize the price that is paid,” he said.

    Sweat will be making his way around Lake Hollingsworth on Memorial Day. But he will have to walk instead of run because he is recovering from hip replacement surgery.

    He is determined to keep up his tradition despite the temporary physical setback.

    “It goes back to my time in the service. Especially with my old platoon sergeant,” he said. “He would always tell us, ‘You know, if you can still feel pain, you can still move. Which means you can still finish the mission.’”

    Sweat says he mostly gets very positive responses to the flags as he runs.

    “I’ve had some people hanging out of the windows screaming. Some of the college students and I actually have some of the locals. I’ve had people hang out of their cars waving at me,” he said.

    Sometimes folks walking around the lake strike up a conversation with Sweat. That’s what Shanti Waite did. She is especially enthusiastic about honoring veterans because she has three female cousins serving in the military.

    “Anytime I see anyone willing to serve the country, show that dedication and patriotism and acknowledge. It is always something that I honor and respect,” she said.

    Sweat has also developed friendships with people who admire what he does. That includes retired Navy Cmdr. Charles Waldron, who would salute Sweat from his house across the street from the lake as Sweat ran by.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Ohio college student creates bandages to help burn victims heal

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    AKRON, Ohio — Nearly half a million people in the U.S. are treated for burns every year, and 45,000 are hospitalized, according to the American Burn Association.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nearly half a million people in the U.S. are treated for burns every year

    • Essinger was burned on over 30% of her body in an industrial accident

    • She worked with two other UA biomedical engineering students on the burn bandages

    “All I could think is, oh my gosh, this hurts, this hurts, this hurts,” said Hailey Essinger.

    For Essinger, this assignment is personal.

    “The pain was extremely intense,” said Essinger. “They had to take my dressings off every single day and scrub them to get all the dead skin and clean the healing skin, and they couldn’t give you enough pain meds to, to stop the pain.”

    That was two years ago when Essinger was burned on over 30% of her body in an industrial accident.

    Now a fifth-year University of Akron biomedical engineering student, she’s teaming up with the Ohio State University burn unit to come up with a product to help burn victims have a better healing and recovery experience.

    “The goal is to make a better burn bandage for burn victims, just like me,” said Essinger.

    Essinger said during her research, she found a lack of burn bandages that met the industry standard.  

    “Our goal is to create a bandage that slips less and pulls on the skin less and is better at application,” said Essinger.

    She’s working with fellow biomedical engineering students Matthew Flaker and Andrew Martin to design and build burn bandages that are versatile, efficient and useful.

    “We wanted it to be modular, which meant there were multiple pieces and you didn’t have to put all of one bandage for if you only burn your arm or your leg,” said Essinger.

    Martin’s focus is sewing the prototype. This project hit home for him because his uncle experienced chemical burns on his body. He joined Essinger’s team because he wanted to do work on a meaningful project.

    “I like bringing value to both the patient and the clinician,” said Martin, who is also a biomedical engineering student. “Originally, I wanted to go to med school and be one of the doctors, but I decided that I can solve problems and bring just as much value to the health space through engineering.”

    Flaker’s role is making sure good material is used for the product, meeting deadlines and keeping up with schedules. He said this product brings excitement for him, his team, the doctors and the patients.

    “It is very difficult for clinicians to apply the current solutions in hospitals, and it’s also difficult for the patients or their caregivers at home to apply these bandages,” said Flaker, a biomedical engineering student.” I’m also just excited to be able to help patients as an engineer, I want to be able to help people.”

    The team is celebrating a second-place victory in the Northeast Ohio Medical University Bench to Bedside product design competition, and first place in Akron’s biomedical department design day. The burn bandages are still in the creation phase all three students will graduate in May but have no intentions on letting go of the project.

    “After graduation, we hope to continue to improve our design so that patients have the best healing and recovery experience,” said Essinger.

    The students say the bandages are mainly for burn victims but can be used for any skin problem.

    Correction: A previous version of this story misspelled Hailey Essinger’s name. This has been corrected. (April 23, 2025)

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    Rose Todd

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  • Charlotte doula supports moms in the community

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kajarra Caldwell is picking up food, books and other necessities at a pantry at the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, North Carolina for a pregnant client. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Research shows moms-to-be have better birth outcomes when they have doulas
    • A professional doula provides support before, during and after birth

    • Kajarra Caldwell is a doula and a senior perinatal community health partner for CityBlock Health

    • She goes above and beyond to help low income women as they navigate motherhood


    “Before I come to pantries, I always ask members a little more about themselves. I like to surprise them with the simple things such as books. She loves books, so she’s going to be amazed when she sees the books,” Caldwell said.  

    Caldwell works as a doula and Senior Perinatal Community Health Partner for CityBlock Health. She says this role aligns with her passion. “Just wanting to help people. I’ve been helping people since I was a youngster,” Caldwell said. 

    She helps pregnant women in several ways, both virtually or in person, before, during and after birth to meet the needs of women. This includes attending appointments, educating them about the birthing process, lactation and postpartum depression, and helping with their nutrition. 

    “It’s important that moms are eating nutritionally during their pregnancy. Sometimes members are high risk, so they can’t work, so it puts pressure on the families that we serve because we cater to low-income families, and this is just a blessing to them,” Caldwell said. 

    She says low-income mothers are a group that needs more support from everyone.  

    “I think that we need to start paying attention to our mothers or our pregnant individuals or women that just had a baby and ask them, ‘What do you need? How can I better assist you?’” Caldwell said. 

    The client she’s picking up and dropping off food for today doesn’t have transportation. Caldwell assists in any area necessary because addressing their most basic needs is important.  

    “The first time I went to her, she literally had nothing,” Caldwell said. “They deserve to be able to eat what they like and what they want.”  

    After spending a decade working in mental health, she felt called to this work because she saw the impacts of when a pregnant woman wasn’t able to feed her baby and ran out of formula. 

    “She called a system that she thought she could call when she needed help for the formula and the system came and they took her baby,” Caldwell said. “It made me think, what could I have done in that situation to help the member?”

    So she made a promise to never see that happen again and fulfills that goal in her role. 

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    Melody Greene

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  • Manatee sheriff’s victim advocate helps family impacted by a murder

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    TAMPA, Fla. — A Manatee County Sheriff’s Office crime victim advocate has gone above and beyond to help a little girl whose mother was murdered. It’s a situation that touched Maria Mireles because she is a mother herself.

    What You Need To Know

    • Maria Mireles is a senior victim advocate for the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office

    • Mireles took a special interest in little Kayla after Kayla’s mother was murdered

    • She has helped to arrange for school supplies and transportation, among other things

    • Would you like to suggest an Everyday Hero? Click here


    Senior victim advocate Mireles responded to the murder scene in June 2020. Delmy Teyul-Ba’s estranged boyfriend had killed her. And Mireles saw a deputy carry Teyul-Ba’s infant daughter, Kayla, from the home covered in blood.

    “Well, it broke my heart,” said Mireles.

    Mireles had her own daughter that was almost exactly Kayla’s age at the time. So, her mother instinct kicked in. “Oh yeah, immediately. Immediately that kicks in as you want to get her and help her and see what she needs,” she said.

    She decided to be a part of Kayla’s life after that. Kayla’s grandmother moved from Guatemala to help raise Kayla. Mireles helped with school supplies and helped with making sure Kayla had transportation to school. She was also a part of birthday parties for Kayla.

    Mireles and the grandmother have become friends. In fact, the grandmother is so grateful for all of Mireles’ help, she has feelings for her like a mother figure.

    Mireles says other victim advocates at the sheriff’s office think of themselves as aunts to Kayla. They sometimes develop a bond with the people they help.

    “You know, being in the field we are in, you can’t disconnect completely. You have to. You have to learn. You can’t just turn off your emotions,” she said.

    Because of her commitment to serving the residents of Manatee County, the sheriff’s office named Mireles its employee of the month in January.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Polk school crossing guard Patricia Johnson loves students, and they love her

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    AUBURNDALE, Fla. — A Polk County woman has become a beloved figure for her work as a school crossing guard.

    Patricia Johnson spent decades as a hospice caregiver. After she retired, someone suggested she might like being a crossing guard, and she decided to go for it.

    What You Need To Know

    • Patricia Johnson worked as a hospice caregiver for decades. 

    • She decided to become a crossing guard after retiring about a year ago. She works near Caldwell Elementary School.

    • She brings donuts for the children every couple of weeks and tells them and passing drivers that she loves them.

    • Nominate an Everyday Hero | Viewers’ Choice Award


    “OK. And good morning to you sweetheart,” Johnson said to a driver as they were passing by her crosswalk at Diary Road and Senate Street near Caldwell Elementary School. Johnson makes sure that drivers know she is on duty and is glad they are driving slowly.

    Johnson goes above and beyond to be friendly to the drivers and to the children she is there to protect. She tells them that she loves them.

    One way she shows that love, is by bringing them donuts a couple of times a month.

    “One apiece. One apiece. Get the napkin,” she tells students as they make their way to the back of her SUV to get their treat. She hugs many of them as they come her way.

    Johnson sometimes brings pizzas for the children. She figures it’s her way of giving back.

    “We love her so much. We love you so much,” said Caldwell Elementary principal Kathryn Ashmore as Johnson gave her a hug as they stood on the sidewalk.

    “I love people. I can’t help that. God loves me. So why can’t I love people? Ain’t nothing wrong with that is there? Is it? I didn’t think so,” Johnson said about the loving way she treats the students and drivers.

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Home health aid Amy Leblanc-Roman praised for her caring approach

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    PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — Home care aids are often unsung heroes for their work with senior citizens and other people dealing with health issues.

    A Pasco County woman was so impressed with her aid, she called Spectrum Bay News 9 to sing her praises.

    What You Need To Know

    • Amy Leblanc-Roman cares for Joann Mayer Lindholm five evenings each week

    • Lindholm needs lots of help after complications from a back procedure

    • Leblanc-Roman tries to cheer up Lindholm when she is having a rough day

    • Nominate an Everyday Hero


    Amy Leblanc-Roman is at Joann Mayer Lindholm’s apartment five evenings a week, helping her with basic chores like cleaning and cooking. Lindholm needs the help because of terrible complications from a back procedure. She is often in pain and can no longer care for herself.

    Leblanc-Roman and Lindholm have grown close in the year that Leblanc-Roman has been coming to Lindholm’s home.

    “Everything happens for a reason,” Leblanc-Roman said to Lindholm as she was washing a cup. “And the reason we got to meet each other and be part of each other’s lives. You’re like a mom to me.”

    Leblanc-Roman provides the home care on top of her full-time job at Elfers Christian School. She’s also dealing with some serious health concerns of her own, including multiple sclerosis. She said she really enjoys her work with Lindholm.

    “My daughter kids me,” she said. “She’s like, ‘You’re at your second home, mom.’”

    Leblanc-Roman takes her work with Lindholm personally. She is empathetic to Lindholm’s suffering. “I just try to make her laugh. So she doesn’t feel so bad. Because everybody has good days and bad days.”

    Leblanc-Roman also takes Lindholm on outings. “And trying to get her hair done and her nails done, and make her feel special like she did before.”

    “I was a wreck 10 months ago,” said Lindholm. “I need help with the shower, like we just did my hair. We colored my hair. Because I used to be a very together woman, you know. I lost that and I was very upset and depressed.”

    Lindholm appreciates the loving care she gets from Leblanc-Roman. “She will make me laugh when I’m crying. You know. She’ll cry when I’m crying. It’s who she is. Her heart is so big.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • Tom and Cindy Hicks are beloved for playing Santa and Mrs. Clause in Polk County

    Tom and Cindy Hicks are beloved for playing Santa and Mrs. Clause in Polk County

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    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Lakeland couple has become beloved figures in Polk County for playing the part of Santa and Mrs. Claus. And it is not something they do only around Christmas time.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tom Hicks brought a Santa outfit at a yard sale in the early 2000s

    • He went to a Santa school in 2016

    • Tom and Cindy Hicks appear as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the annual Lakeland Christmas parade

    • The Hickses say they love bringing joy to families and children


    Tens of thousands of people see Tom Hicks and his wife Cindy Hicks as Santa and Mrs. Claus on the final float of the annual Lakeland Christmas parade.

    “And we just have such a wonderful time, waving and greeting them and wishing them a Merry Christmas,” said Tom Hicks. “And they have received us so well. So, it’s been a lot of fun.”

    Tom and Cindy Hicks appear at many events like the Lakeland Police Department’s Cops for Kids event, where disadvantaged children get Christmas toys at the event.

    “I have had some children hug me so tight, it’s like they just don’t want to let go. It’s like they just don’t get that a lot,” he said.

    Tom Hicks got started playing the part of St. Nick when he bought a Santa suit in the early 2000s. Back then, he was using a fake beard. He made a few appearances as Santa and then he started getting lots of requests. Tom Hicks went to a Santa school in 2016 and has been growing his beard since then.

    Recently, the couple appeared at a summer Christmas event at the Lake Mirror Center. It was put on by Tri-County Human Services where Tom Hicks works as a marketing representative. The agency provides mental health programs and drug and alcohol addiction treatments.

    Tri-County Marketing Executive Ivon Ruz is a big fan of Tom Hicks’ work as Santa.

    “It’s just him. He’s awesome,” she said. “His demeanor, his passion for what he does. He is the same person at home, anywhere you see him. Everybody recognizes him. He is the real Santa Claus.”

    Playing the part of Santa and Mrs. Claus is more than just a gig for Tom and Cindy Hicks.

    “It’s just the joy that you bring to children and families,” he said. “To see their reaction, their surprise. And then the joy, the smiles on their faces as they interact. The children really express a lot of love back.”

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    Rick Elmhorst

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  • N.C. woman battles cancer while helping other patients gain vital resources

    N.C. woman battles cancer while helping other patients gain vital resources

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    CARY, N.C. — There’s no question a cancer diagnosis is life changing, but it impacts more than just physical health. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly one in four people diagnosed with breast cancer experience depression. 

    It can lead to memory loss, fatigue, anxiety and even PTSD. But a woman in our state is working hard to meet fellow survivors on their journey, offering them love, support and care.  

    What You Need To Know

    • Survivor Friendly started in 2014 in partnership with Genuine Self Images

    • Survivor Friendly’s mission is to raise awareness of the side effects of cancer and treatments, and to help survivors transition from surviving to thriving

    • Shops offering specialty items for women fighting or recovering from cancer can now be found in a number of locations across the state

    • The group also distributed bags to different cancer centers and masks overseas to provide for free beauty essential not covered by insurance


    Jackie Cromity spent a majority of her life battling cancer. She lost her mom to breast cancer at age 8, and her father to cancer a few years back. And now she’s facing yet another challenge.  

    “Right now, I have brain cancer. It’s in my lungs, as well as in my stomach. It’s the fourth time I’ve been through this,” Cromity said.   

    “They found over 30 lesions in my brain,” she added. 

    Jackie Cromity spent a majority of her life battling cancer. (Jackie Cromity)

    From intense radiation and chemotherapy to lumpectomies and mastectomies, Jackie’s seen firsthand the problems that arise with the disease. She’s faced hair loss, swelling and even a lack of skin-colored prosthetics for women of color.    

    “I can’t tell you how many women come in suicidal. I’ve had women share that they won’t even let their husbands see or touch them. They feel they should have died because of the quality of life they currently have,” Cromity said.  

    So Jackie decided to build a place for women like her to turn. She created Survivor Friendly, a one-stop shop that helps cancer patients in their delicate journey to recovery.  

    “No woman should ever be stuffing their bra because they don’t think they have support,” Cromity said.  

    Cromity says her mission is growing (Jackie Cromity)

    “We want to uplift them when they come through the door no matter what stage of the journey they’re in,” Cromity added.  

    The shop is filled with port friendly clothing and fitted prosthetics for all skin colors, with mastectomy bras, cosmetic eyebrows and even wigs. 

    “A lot of people lose their hair like I did. People see me and say, you don’t look sick. No, my hair is gone,“ Cromity said while removing her wig.   

    It’s a place to feel empowered that educates women about what’s covered by insurance and offers the essentials for free to those who can’t afford them.      

    “For us to do something as simple as give them a prosthetic, or give them a mastectomy bra, that can make them feel pretty, or women that can feel like she can step in front of her husband and feel whole again, or just her looking in the mirror and looking whole again. To me, that’s giving them a piece of life back,” Cromity said, fighting back tears.     

    Now, her mission is growing. What started as a couple of shops in the Triangle is expanding across the state, with new permanent locations and packing parties to help send essentials to the people who need them the most. 

    “We’re packing bags today for Survivor Friendly. This is something that’s very near and dear to my heart. I actually have a friend that’s battling breast cancer right now,” said Candace Beverly, of First Bank in Raleigh, who spent her day volunteering to pack care packages for the foundation.    

    Survivor Friendly’s mission is to raise awareness of the side effects of cancer and treatments, and to help survivors transition from surviving to thriving. (Jackie Cromity)

    On this day, Beverly and other volunteers from First Bank in Raleigh are stuffing bags with small but meaningful gifts like lipstick, nail polish and eyelashes, to help boost self esteem.  

    “I’ve seen her go through a lot of this stuff and the loss that she’s had from her hair to not getting her nails done and eyelashes. And just the loss of self that you feel as a woman. So this is really special to me,” Beverly added.  

    Each bag is also stuffed with a handwritten note, to let those fighting know someone cares.  

    “When someone takes this out and they’re feeling a little down, or they don’t feel like being courageous today, they can know that there’s people out here thinking about them and praying for them, and that they have a village,” said volunteer LaQuan Lucas Harris, while writing messages letting know cancer patients how much she cares.  

    It’s a village led by Cromity, who hopes their reach will only continue to grow.    

    “I feel like it’s my mission to help people live while they’re going through their treatment,” Cromity said. 

    Now, Survivor Friendly has locations in Cary, Shelby, Winston-Salem, Raleigh, Durham, Thomasville, Gastonia and Fayetteville, and Jackie wants to expand their reach to people in rural parts of the state that can’t make it to one of their stores for a fitting.

    That effort costs money, so they’re holding a fundraiser this fall, calling on the public to help. 

    The Survivorship Support Fundraising Event is taking place on Sept. 10 from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tickets are $125, while table sponsorships are also available. 

    The dress code is business casual and Cromity says support and auction item donations are greatly needed. For more information, visit their website or call 888-432-4747.

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    Caroline Blair

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