Good News Story — Kindness Still Builds Bridges

David Heavens lost his apartment in 2023. He ended up homeless, sleeping in his car.

Most people in that situation would be focused on survival. But David did something unexpected: he went online and offered to volunteer his time—two hours, free—to anyone in his community who needed help.

A 91-year-old Navy veteran named Frank saw the post. He and his partner needed someone to walk their dogs.

David showed up. And he kept showing up.

Raised by his grandmother, David has always connected with older people. The dog walking became regular visits. Then caregiving. Then real friendship.

What makes their bond even more powerful: Frank marched for civil rights decades ago. Now David—a young Black man—is the one caring for him.

David put it simply: "He marched for somebody like me. My grandmother raised somebody like me to help somebody like him."

Frank says David is the most inspirational person he's met in nine decades.

Last fall, David started sharing glimpses of their friendship online. In three months, their story reached nearly 400,000 people. Not because it's unusual for people to help each other—but because we don't see enough of it.

Frank thinks people are hungry for stories like theirs. Something that isn't divisive or cynical. Something real.

David says he's grateful every single day.

In a time when so much feels divided and exhausting, this friendship is a quiet reminder: community doesn't happen in theory. It happens in small acts. It happens when people show up for each other.

Sometimes change doesn't start with policy. Sometimes it starts with one person saying, "I can help."