ACTS OF KINDNESS

Darian Locklear will be remembered as many things: bright, warm, kind, athletic and beautiful. But she was shy, too. Or as her mother phrased it with a laugh, “just a little socially awkward.” Even as a teenager, Darian was uncomfortable doing things like ordering at a restaurant.

Any time the Mackinac Bridge is closed or congested, traffic wise, you can imagine drivers are a little on edge. All of us can be that way in heavy traffic, right?

Ariah Schugat recently came to the Ann Arbor area and experienced these challenges. With restaurants, cafes and the Ann Arbor District Libraries closed, the pack helped keep her phone charged and, in turn, connected with those who could help. When asked why she started the project, Schugat said she wanted to spread kindness, since it is ultimately what got her off the streets. “The need is far greater than just the phone kits. Every time they come out (of jail), they’re two steps further back.”With plans to expand the project, Schugat said more funding is needed.

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. – In the early days of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Local 4 showed you how the Birmingham schools food program was committed to serving meals to any student in the area that needed one. They really came through -- to date, the program has given out more than 100,000 meals. READ: Birmingham food workers keep children fed during coronavirus (COVID-19) crisisBack in March, Patti Guck and her team set about the job of feeding children. With the start of a new school year on the horizon, there will be some changes in the program. Many districts are planning a hybrid schedule in the fall and meals will be available even if children are learning at home.

YPSILANTI, Mich. A bakery in Ypsilanti is going above and beyond to help the community during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Bird Dog Baking is working with others to help spur small business in the area. Jennifer Haglund and Mark Bogard are part of the small business with big plans. They hope paying customers will see that everybody wins in this scenario. You can watch Steve Garagiolas full story in the video posted above.

BEVERLY HILLS, Mich. For patients working to recover from COVID-19 in the hospital, the process can be incredibly isolating. A few months ago, Local 4 introduced viewers to a high school student working to make them feel better -- and that mission hasnt slowed down since. When his high school closed its doors back in March, Rubin had a lot of time on his hands, so he started a card campaign. ORIGINAL STORY: You are not alone -- Michigan teen collects handmade notes for COVID-19 patientsI wasnt really doing much. Rubin started collecting hand-made greeting cards and get well cards from his friends at Wylie E. Groves High School.

DETROIT A group of Metro Detroit volunteers spent their spring teaching families how to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to be donated to food pantries. Theyre limited on what theyre getting, especially in the field of produce.The goal is to grow fruits and vegetables for Detroiters in need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. When the food is ready, those volunteers pick it up and bring it to food pantries or families in need. Produce has been delivered to more than 400 homes, in addition to food pantries. Volunteers are now thinking ahead to make sure theyre ready to deal with what happens in the fall and winter to make sure they have food supplies ready.

This year, after taking over the duties of feeding the community on Detroit’s East side when a nearby food bank shut down, the Sisters went into high gear -- bread, cereal, non-perishables, but fell short on produce.

DETROIT A group of Metro Detroit chefs came together four months ago to help feed those in need in the city. A handful of Detroit area award-winning chefs teamed up to start making meals to feed families living in shelters and the needy. RELATED: Metro Detroit restaurants help community amid COVID-19 outbreakCulinary students volunteered to help chefs prepare meals for an estimated 400 people every day, Monday through Friday -- about 2,000 meals a week, 9,000 meals so far. The group also started taking food donations from across the state -- little did they know, their work was just getting started. As time progressed, we started taking in donations from all over the place, some charity capital for building produce, Jones said.

DETROIT A group of golfers from the Detroit Golf Club wanted to get off the sidelines and do something to help others during the COVID-19 pandemic. About 40 Metro Detroit professionals from all walks of life saw a chance to help others in their community and decided to pitch in and help. It just it really really hits in the heart. I said these are the people that would help me or my family if we were sick, Thatcher said. Its extremely deep and heartfelt.If youd like to donate to help The Go Team, click here.

The campaign now supporting Black and brown-owned Detroit area restaurants, ordering catered meals to feed those in need. RELATED: New app supports Black-owned restaurants in Detroit, Atlanta, PhiladelphiaIn addition to the homeless at the neighborhood service organization, the campaign is now also helping at risk girls and women. Here are three ways you can help right now :1) The Pay It Forward team has created The Detroit Map of Black-owned Restaurants to help make it easy to locate and support black-owned Detroit neighborhood restaurants right now. Using this map, you can:Patronize Black-owned restaurants. 3) Check out all of Pay It Forward restaurant partners to support them by ordering takeout/delivery or dining in safely:

PLEASANT RIDGE, Mich. Every gesture of kindness -- no matter how big or small -- helps during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and one Metro Detroit group is showing how neighbors working together can go a long way. Neighbors That Care is a group that started in the small Oakland County community of Pleasant Ridge. When residents in Pleasant Ridge realized as many as 5% of their tight-knit community is made up of first responders, they wanted to do something more to help make their day-to-day lives easier. Volunteers decided to work with the Pleasant Ridge Foundation to put together and deliver food baskets for first responders. We have a local pizza restaurant that is going to be providing pizza certificates that first responders can use.

MILFORD, Mich. Students at Michigan Rock School learn music, community friendship and self-confidence. When the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic hit and students couldnt be in class together their teachers made sure they didnt feel isolated. During a normal year, the young musicians practice together, play together and perform together every four months. Proceeds from the album support the Center for Disaster Philanthropy COVID-19 Response Fund, and the Milford Skatepark Project. Click here to learn more about Michigan Rock School.

NEW BOSTON, Mich. Two children in New Boston wanted to do something to calm fears during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Ryan and Reese Marvaso, 12 and 9, respectively, are the brother and sister duo, along with their mom, Jill, who started this unique project together. This pinwheel is all about a project that the kids started called Project Pinwheel Pandemic and they wanted to spread happiness and cheer to family and friends and community members, Jill said. They tag them with a note about their pinwheel project, load them up in the car and pass them out to anyone who wants one. For these children, while theyve been at home for months because of the stay-at-home order, the pinwheel project has not only brought others joy, but them as well.

DETROIT From Detroit to Flint and everywhere in between, volunteers with Frontline Foods are working with local restaurants to give them business and feed hospital workers. Several local restaurants including Stackers Deli, Bobcat Bonnies, and Olgas Kitchen. The southeast Michigan chapter of Frontline Foods is about to cross the milestone of 10,000 meals served during this pandemic. we're here to, you know, facilitate those orders and keep supporting our frontline heroes and local restaurants, Bonnie Van Megroet Said. As the pandemic continues, Frontline Foods is turning its focus on where the need is greatest.

DETROIT A longtime Detroit pizza delivery man came up with an idea to keep his employees working and the people on the front lines of the coronavirus (COVID-19) battle fed during the pandemic. John Grossi, of Amiccis Pizza, is a staple in the community. His family has been in the Detroit pizza business for decades, and now hes delivering to front line heroes. Were just trying to help the people that are doing the hard work, the heavy lifting or, you know, just doing our little bit to help, Grossi said. Click here if you would like to help Amiccis feed heroes on the front lines.

Fiat Chrysler employee gives food to 700 familes in needPublished: May 9, 2020, 6:20 pmAfter nearly losing his life to a heart condition, Marvin Skipper dedicated his life to helping his community.

'Drive-up concerts’: Lake Orion sisters keep music alive during coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemicPublished: April 29, 2020, 5:57 pmThe Keynote Sisters, Phoebe and Jaclyn Holmes, from Lake Orion, are keeping music alive in their community by performing “drive-up concerts” during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Elementary student auctions photographs to raise money toward coronavirus response effortsPublished: April 26, 2020, 11:22 pmAn elementary student from Oakland County is using her free time -- and photography skills -- to raise money for families impacted by the pandemic.

DETROIT – We’ve been seeing all sorts of actions being taken in order to show gratitude toward out healthcare workers fighting the coronavirus, and it’s been no different for staff at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit. A truck dropped off care packages for Dr. Daniel Taylor and his entire staff at Sinai Grace. The truck came from Port Huron and it was put together by his niece, Jennifer Canup. Watch the story above.

St. Clair Shores therapist offers free teletherapy session for frontline workers amid COVID-19 outbreakPublished: April 7, 2020, 12:05 amThe effects of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt for months and years to come and it’ll impact mental health, not just physical health.

But it’s in these city and neighborhood groups where you might have noticed community members leaning on each other, so to speak. Maybe the note on community groups got you thinking of some good you’ve seen around town. Maybe you know of a friend -- or a friend of a friend -- spreading cheer or making masks or a beautiful grandparent-grandchild reunion that brought tears to your eyes. Perhaps you fixed up your house all spring and you think more people should see. Do you know of businesses, groups or individuals doing a little extra to help others?

Chesterfield flower shop donates bouquets to those on the frontlinesPublished: April 5, 2020, 11:46 pmA Macomb County woman worked hard all winter, expecting business to be booming this spring. Then the coronavirus outbreak hit. As of Sunday, April 5, there were 15,718 confirmed cases in the state of Michigan.

DETROIT – An estimated 400 meals were donated to heath care workers Saturday at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. The project started with a simple idea to raise money to support local restaurants by buying food for hospital workers. A Facebook group, called Front Line Appreciation Group, is asking for small donations of $10-20 to buy meals. The group has different restaurants and medical facilities planned for the coming weeks. If you’d like to donate or volunteer, visit the official FLAG Facebook group here.

Metro Detroit group helps local restaurants by buying food for hospital workersPublished: March 28, 2020, 11:23 pmThe project started with a simple idea to raise money to support local restaurants by buying food for hospital workers. Monica Toumey got the project rolling by tapping into feelings many of us share -- where do you put the focus of all your swirling emotions?

Metro Detroiters step up to help hospitals, medical centers amid escalating coronavirus pandemicPublished: March 28, 2020, 6:39 pmAs the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic escalates, nurses and doctors are working around the clock to fight the outbreak from the frontlines. Communities across Metro Detroit have been stepping up to show healthcare workers their appreciation, from donations to food drop offs to social media drives.

This photo provided by Mona Helgeland in lgrd, Norway, shows a birthday card made by an American from Idaho and member of the Facebook group "Random Acts of Kindness" for her daughter Kristine, who is about to celebrate her 17th birthday. Helgeland appealed to members of the virtual group to send birthday wishes to her daughter, who was disappointed that her party had to be canceled due to coronavirus concerns. Their birthdays were coming up but they were self-quarantined because of the coronavirus and going to miss celebrating with friends and family. So, the Norwegian single mother of two went on Facebook groups and asked people to send greeting cards. Amid the grim news Helgeland has seen goodness, one card at a time.

The family knew the teen was being bullied, but they didn’t know it was happening to such a serious extent. Darian’s kindness had gotten her through a very dark time. Darian didn’t become best friends with everyone she encountered, but she was kind -- every day. At one 5K event, “Darian’s Kindness Warriors” gathered more than 100 participants and raised more than $14,000 in a matter of weeks. Now, there’s even Dash for Darian -- a 5K for Kindness, which will raise money for the Darian Locklear Kindness Scholarship.