2017 had its share of violence, political turmoil and natural disasters, it's easy to get caught up in the bad and forget the good. In spite of everything, there is still goodness in the world. To prove it, look no further than the next generation. Acts of kindness, creativity and celebrations of our differences from these children remind us that faith in humanity is not lost.
The kids who raised close to $1,000 to help a disabled veteran
A group of neighborhood kids in Memphis used a good old-fashioned lemonade stand to raise close to $1,000 for a disabled veteran in their neighborhood. The money will be used for home repairs, a new garage door, and a walk in shower for Lorenzo Rhynes' wheelchair. The neighborhood said they are bonding together now to make grocery deliveries and appointments much easier for him to get to.
The 4-year-old best friends who insist they're twins
Jia Sarnicola and Zuri Copeland of Miami insist they're twins because they "have the same birthday and the same soul," Jia said. Jia is blonde and Caucasian, while Zuri has black hair and is African American. Their birthdays are actually two days apart -- Jia's is June 3 and Zuri's is June 5 -- but they celebrated together this year and share a very special bond. The girls' moms said they are very proud their daughters don't notice their differences, only their similarities.
The 5-year-old boy who saves stray animals dressed as super heroes
5-year-old Shon Griffin is now known as 'Catman' on the streets of Philadelphia. The boy wears superhero costumes when he rescues stray cats who need a home. Shon visits his aunts regularly and helps look after the 45 cats now under their care at four locations in the city. "His favorite thing to do is give them treats. He knows how to dish out the dry food, fill up the water bowls without any directions from us," Papiernik said.
The 4-year-old boy who read 100 books in one day
“I like to read, and I want to read some more like my sister."
Reading is fundamental for a 4-year-old Chicago boy. It's a lot of fun, too. Caleb Green staged a reading marathon completing 100 books, WLS reported. Every time he finished 10 books, including his favorites about dogs and Ninja Turtles, he did a little dance. Caleb's parents decided to stream his book binge on Facebook Live and received several thousand views.
The Georgia boy who paid a sweet tribute to a fallen police officer
A Georgia boy brought comfort to a grieving police department by paying a sweet tribute to a fallen officer. Det. Kristen Hearne was killed in the line of duty in Cedartown back in October. As the funeral procession passed through Polk County, Hearne's fellow officers were moved to see 3-year-old Cohen, wearing a police officer's uniform and saluting as the funeral procession passed through Polk County. "Cohen has always looked up to police officers. He is so sweet and has always had the biggest heart," his mother said. "He loves superheroes and thinks of police officers as realife superheroes."