Reading the news today can feel overwhelming and oftentimes depressing. As the holiday season approaches this Dec., it’s especially important to pause and remember the beauty, love, and happiness that still exist in the world. From glowing wildlife lanterns to laundromats on wheels, joy exists in every corner of the world.
A retired police officer in Maryland transformed a functioning bus into a mobile laundromat for people experiencing homelessness. After hearing what he described as a voice “out of nowhere” calling him to action, former canine officer Wade Milyard learned that domestic abuse victims living in a homeless camp were washing their clothes in a nearby creek. Unable to forget what he’d seen, Milyard decided he wanted to make a difference.
Milyard pooled donations and began building Fresh Step Laundry, a fully operational laundromat on wheels with a mission to “help restore dignity to the unhoused community by providing free, accessible, and hygienic laundry.” In Jan., Milyard retired from the police force to dedicate his time fully to the project.
The bus operates on a schedule so people know when and where to meet him, and all services are completely free. One man who used the service, Chris Washington, told CBS, “If you’re clean, you just feel better. . . You feel a little bit more proud of yourself.” Milyard has plans to expand the program by adding a second vehicle, allowing him to serve even more people.
“This story is truly so uplifting and inspiring. It shows how much good one person can do and the impact that someone can have on others. Especially during the holiday season it’s so important to give back to those who don’t have as much as you,” said sophomore Liza Zlotoff.
In the medical world, teens from Lambert High School in Atlanta brought hope of another kind, finishing in the top 10 of an international science competition after developing an innovative testing and treatment approach for Lyme disease. Transmitted by infected ticks, Lyme can cause arthritis, nerve damage, and heart problems if left untreated.
The competition, called the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM), was held in Paris and invited teams from around the world to submit projects using synthetic biology.
Lambert’s iGEM team is highly prestigious as students from across the globe interested in biotechnology even move to Georgia for a chance to test into the program.
Team Captains Sean Lee and Avani Kartik explain their work: “it’s a novel way of CRISPR that detects [the disease] and so we have to create a guide RNA, and when that guide RNA is recognized the protein gets activated and it collaterally cleaves or cuts everything around it.” Early on, many professors told the team their goal was nearly impossible, as researchers have long struggled to address Lyme using traditional antibiotics.
Lyme disease is notoriously difficult to detect, especially within the crucial first two weeks when treatment is most effective. The team’s approach focuses on identifying a protein produced by the infection. By combining CRISPR gene-editing technology with a simulated blood serum, they can target hidden DNA strands, snip away extraneous genetic material, and expose the protein, allowing for detection through a simple, kit-like test.
Team member Claire Lee told CBS, “We’re doing something in our high school lab that could potentially have a huge impact for, like, millions of people. It’s not like we’re just saying, like, ‘Oh. I’m just doing this little thing that–’ like, ‘It might help my grade.’ This thing could help save lives.”
This breakthrough is only the beginning. In the weeks leading up to the competition, the team pulled all-nighters writing code, researching, and building a website to present their findings.
“It’s amazing how much good a few high schoolers can do. People always underestimate kids, but teens are often the ones with the most ambition and passion for solving big problems,” said junior Annie Beaudet.
In a world where stressful headlines often dominate, it’s easy to miss stories like these. As the year comes to a close, stories of joyful celebrations, community service, and teens committed to making a difference reminds us that hope, kindness, and inspiration are still very much alive.