When you turn on the TV today you will get bombarded with clips of shootings, fires, and hate crimes. It seems to be the only thing the media will report anymore which can leave viewers feeling sad, broken, and hopeless. With so much hate in the world, how could anyone have any hope?

There are amazing, positive stories that need to be told and shared. The majority of people on this earth are not filled with hate and violence. Rather, they have hearts that are full of love that they want to share with others. The way people can come together to do great things for the world is remarkable, and contrary to popular belief does happen every day.

Here are some stories of humanity working together to make the world a better place. It will give you a renewed faith in others and inspire you to give back to your own local community as well.

Egypt’s Muslims serve as human shields.

In Egypt in 2011 there was a terrible terrorist attack at the hands of radical Muslims that left 21 Christians dead. This shook the Christians in the country, who are a minority. With Christmas Eve being only a few days after, many Christians were terrified to attend their own church services. When they left their homes anyways, they were amazed when they found a group of Muslims carrying signs that read: “If the terrorists want to kill you, they will have to kill us too.” This group of Muslims helped the Christians get to their places of worship safely and acted as human shields. This goes to show that no matter what religion you are you can show kindness and empathy towards other. The Muslim group risked their lives to make sure Christians were able to celebrate the holiday; what an amazing act of kindness.

Blood drive for Vegas shooting victims.

In 2017, America was thrown for a spin when a lone gunman opened fire on a crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip. The man was able to kill 58 people and injure another 422 more. Though the event was heartbreaking, many decided to stand up and find a way to help. Following the massacre, blood donations quickly became a way for the community to give back. The lines to donate blood were hundred deep and stretched for blocks. This didn’t just happen the day after the shooting – but for days after – and all across the United States. Joe Silvestro, who had just moved to Vegas at the time of the shooting, said “I just thought it was the least I could do.” What a great way to show support to those who lost their lives.

Aid to finish the race.

Having good showmanship is one of the number one rules of any sport. Meghan Vogel, at only 17, was in last place in the 3,200-meter run when she caught up to competitor Arden McMath. McMath’s body was giving out and she was facing a hard injury. Instead of running past her to avoid finishing in dead last, Vogel put McMath’s arm around her should and helped carry her the last 30 meters of the race. Vogel pushed McMath ahead of the finish line before she herself crossed it, leaving McMath in only second-to-last place. What Vogel did for a fellow member of her sport showed kindness and compassion in a world where many want to finish first, without caring about others. It was a sweet gesture we all can learn from.

Helping the homeless when a shelter shut down. 

Having a warm dinner at home seems like such a normal thing for most families, but in reality there are many in the world that do not know where they will find their next meal. In Hazard, Kentucky, many of the homeless population became scared when the Hope House, a local homeless shelter, was shut down. They were worried that they had no place to sleep, let alone a nice lunch. The community gathered together and a group of volunteers stepped up to the place to give out food to those who were displaced. Bessie Hughes, who was one of the workers at Hope House, said: "I just want to make sure these people have some sort of substance in their stomach, you know it may just be chips and a hot dog but it's food". The volunteers all came from backgrounds where they themselves had experienced homelessness, so they felt it was only right to give back.

Giving out money in a random act of kindness.

For years there has been a unique occurrence happening in the town of Salem, Oregon. Residents – from single moms to homeless veterans – have been finding $100 bills hidden in their bags signed with the name “Benny”. It was estimated that over $50,000 had been given out by the mysterious philanthropist. The act of generosity started to inspire those in the town to also pay it forward. For those that received a “Benny” bill that were not in need, many began handing them off to other citizens or slipping them into donation boxes for charity. The original donor is still a mystery, but his small acts of kindness brought an entire town together. It is a tradition they hope lasts for years to come.

Though there are many reasons to be sad about the state of society today, there are also many reasons why we should have hope. These stories remind us that even through our differences, we can come together to make the world a bit of a brighter place. Let these stories inspire you to also give back in any way you can. Show compassion to others and provide faith in humanity through your actions.