Christmas Stories: Renting parents for the holidays and ugly Christmas sweaters

0:03 Calarugashawk media. Who doesn't like a nice, happy story this time of year? Hi, I'm Johnny Mack and it's another special episode of five Good News Christmas Stories. A disaster. While all her classmates at William Jessup University near Sacramento were eagerly making plans with family and friends for their trips back home for the holidays, junior student Jackie Turner was worried she would be the only one left on campus for Christmas. This time of year is hard, Jackie admitted. Everyone is talking about their cousins, their families, all the things that make up Christmas. Jackie revealed that she didn't have any of those familial connections.

0:45 In fact, she had never experienced them. In an interview with CBS News, she shared that her childhood was marked by abuse, devoid of the warm, festive experiences her classmates described. Instead of succumbing to self pity, the straight A student took an unconventional step. She posted an ad on Craigslist offering eight dollars per hour to rent parents for the holidays, maybe for like a couple hours. She said in her ad, just be like the light of their life for that moment. The response to her ad was overwhelming. She received dozens of replies, about half from parents offering their help for free, and the other half from young people who empathized with her situation. Motivated by this, Jackie organized a meet up Christmas potluck dinner. People are hurting and broken and we need each other, Jackie expressed during the event. We need to be loving people, and I think that's what tonight's about. That holiday season, Jackie not only found a mentor for herself, but also facilitated connections between those in need and those willing to give. She has continued to host annual meetups with a potluck Christmas dinner, firmly believing that no one should ever have to feel alone on Christmas. A situation involving a fake sign language interpreter at Nelson Mandela's Memorial led a deaf mother to showcase authentic sign language communication.

2:10 Laurie shared a video of how her five year old daughter Claire, skillfully signed for her deaf parents during a kindergarten holiday concert at Plumb Elementary School. A YouTube video featured Claire, identifiable by her blonde hair, energetically singing and signing an American sign language with her classmates, her mother speaking to Today, Mom's commented on Claire's vibrant expressions. She is full of personality and spunk. That's the Claire we know. The video even caught the attention of Marlee Matlin, a well known deaf actress. Laurie Coke, a business analyst at video relay service for the deaf and heart of Hearing, and her husband, Tom, who runs a scuba business, were both born deaf. Their daughters, Claire and Charlotte, are hearing, but have been exposed to American sign language since birth. Laurie explained Claire used sign language in the play because she was considerate of us and wanted us to understand the lyrics to the song. She was signing to her parents, looking right into my iPhone as she knew I was recording her. We don't use our daughter as an interpreter, but if there is something we missed, she would likely relay it to us. At the peak of the Great Depression, a family found themselves reliant on home relief, the era's version of welfare. It was nineteen thirty five, and they resided on the first floor of a walk up in Brooklyn, New York.

3:36 The child a ten year old witnessed a somber scene a few days before Christmas through the kitchen window. Their father seated on the stoop, overwhelmed with despair and tears. As the mailman neared their building, he inquired about the father's distress. Overheard was the father's admission of exhausting his food vouchers and falling behind on rent. Efforts to earn earn through the works progress administration had proven feudle for him, as he lacked the physical strength for such demanding labor. Fear hung in the air, fueled by images of evicted families that the child had seen in newspapers. The mailman, upon learning the amount needed to cover the rent, immediately offered fifty dollars from his own wallet. The father's uncertainty about repaying this kindness was met with a reassuring embrace and the mailman's indifference to repayment.

4:30 Noticing the child peering through the window, the mailman imparted a lesson of hope and future goodwill. He suggested that remembrance of this act of kindness should inspire similar generosity when others are in need, considering such acts as the true repayment of his deed. Inspired by this event, the father made it his life's mission to help others whenever possible, a legacy that the child too, embraced and carried forward for the better part of a decade's Each Christmas, Jesse Tignani, a dedicated cafeteria worker at Chicago's Advocate Trinity Hospital, has undertaken a heartwarming mission. She purchases thousands of dollars worth of toys for all the children at the state's largest pediatric care facility. To fund this generous endeavor, Tignani diligently sets aside a portion of her monthly paycheck. In a particularly ambitious effort this year, she took time off on Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday, rented a U haul, and spent five thousand dollars on a variety of toys such as Dolly buggies, electric keyboards, and soccer balls. These gifts were thoughtfully selected to bring joy to children of all ages during the festive season. In an interview with Good Morning America, Tignani expressed her deep satisfaction with her charitable efforts. I feel so blessed to have this opportun unity to serve these children,

6:00 she said. I feel great, and I feel at peace because what I do is to put a smile on the face of a child who is going through so much. Whatever the pain they might go through, her actions reflect not just a seasonal gesture, but a profound commitment to bringing happiness to children enduring health challenges during what should be a joyful time of year. If you don't have your Ugly Christmas sweater yet, here are some options for you. The Friend's Christmas Sweater combines characters from various holiday films like Home Alone, The Grinch, and a Christmas Story, but not Chandler nor Monica. They have a Merry Fiery Christmas Sweater is a guy fiery themed sweater for food and Internet culture enthusiasts. Your college aged children may enjoy the Beer Pong Ugly Christmas Sweater, a party themed sweater with detachable cups and included ping pong ball, and last, but not least, the squirrel in the Christmas Tree Ugly sweater features a three D squirrel. Those are your five good news Christmas stories for today. Thanks to Johnny Mack for letting me pitch in. I'm Aster Ireland.

7:06 Have a great day.