Teen Who Lost Legs Helps Others Walk

After losing both his legs in a boating accident, Jordan Thomas could have become bitter. Yet, the athletic teen figured he was lucky -- his parents could afford expensive prosthetics -- and dedicated himself to helping other kids who have lost limbs.

The Tennessean, then 16, was scuba diving in the Florida Keys in 2005 when a boat's wake dragged him into its propellers. While his parents, both doctors, sprung into action, his legs could not be spared.

Luckily, $24,000 prosthetics allowed Thomas to return to the golf course. But while hospitalized, he discovered that many insurance plans cover only $5,000 worth of prosthetic bills. Now a college student, he created the Jordan Thomas Foundation, which has raised $400,000 for children in need of prosthetics.

Church Group Gives the Gift of Pizza

The following Nice One was submitted by Josh Humberger from Toledo, Ohio. Because his story was selected as this week's winner, $1,000 will be donated to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in his name.

A church group in Toledo, Ohio, is dishing it out goodwill that people can actually sink their teeth into.

On the 11th day of every month, members of the new Threshold Church gather at a pizza joint in Toledo. While there, the church members pay for someone else's meal. This month, it was at Chuck E. Cheese's near the mall. Last month it was PizzaPapali's. And in October, Cici's Pizza Buffet.

"We are on a quest to find Toledo's best pizza," said church member Josh Humberger.

The free pizza is just a small part of the church's goal to feed 5,000 people in the community in one year. In addition to the 11-7 pizza meetings (They meet the 11th of every month at 7 p.m.), the church reaches out to others regularly, feeding the homeless, college students and others who simply need food.

While all churches seek to build their congregations, Humberger said the free meals are part of a biblical passage that calls for believers to go out and help others.

"It is not about trying to attract people to come into church," he said.

Retired Teacher Roams Streets Armed With Sandwiches

Ever since he retired from teaching 10 years ago, Allan Law has roamed the streets, offering the gift of sandwiches.

Driving through Minneapolis in the wee hours of the night, Law often works 18 hours a day feeding the homeless and hungry. Last year, he handed out 85,000 sandwiches. This year, he's on track to hand out 170,000.

"As long as I see people's lives changing, it's worth it," said Law, whose full-time volunteer efforts began the day after his retirement.

The 64-year-old former middle school teacher has the words "Love One Another" printed on his van, which is stocked with food and water. At his condo, five freezers are crammed with sandwiches. Meanwhile, his bed is covered with coats he is collecting for the homeless.

"If everyone just helped a little, said a kind word to everybody, the world could be a better place," he said.

A Good Samaritan Treats Other Good Samaritans

The following Nice One was submitted by Marilyn Haas of Evergreen, Co. Because her story was selected as a weekly winner, $1,000 will be contributed to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in her name.

A group of good Samaritans in Evergreen, Colorado, ran into another good Samaritan, who in turn made it easier for the first group of good Samaritans to do what they do.

We know -- that sounds pretty confusing. But let us explain:

It started with a meeting at the historic Bistro restaurant in the Rockies. Eight members of the Conifer Lions had gathered there to discuss how they were going to purchase gifts for the residents of a local battered women's shelter. At a nearby table, a man was eating alone, prompting one of the Lions members to give him a card, inviting him to a future meeting. The Lions then continued to eat their meals and discuss the gifts.

"When it came time for our bill, the owner came over and told me that the man who had been dining near us had paid our bill in full," said Lions member Marilyn Haas. "He was gone without a mention of his gift to us."

With most Bistro dinners starting at $16, it wasn't a cheap tab. Stunned by the gesture, the Lions members decided to pay it forward.

"We agreed to take the money we were going to pay for our dinners and add it to the amount we had budgeted for gifts," Haas said. "His contribution allowed us to more than double our gift budget."

Inmates Save Guard's Life

Once cast off as dangerous criminals, a group of Florida inmates are now regarded as heroes after saving a guard's life.

When 24-year-old inmate Douglas E. Burden began strangling Ken Moon, a guard at the Orient Road Jail near Tampa, Fla., four other inmates rushed to Moon's rescue. Burden was punched and knocked to the ground as Moon, 64, was freed from a potentially deadly martial arts choke hold.

The heroic inmates, who are facing charges ranging from attempted murder to aggravated assault, were credited with saving Moon's life. As a result, Deputy Larry McKinnon of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department has written letters of support for the inmates, which will go into their court files.

"This is just an indication that these guys that were in there for all these violent crimes still have some goodness in their hearts," McKinnon said.

Man With Year to Live Collects Books for Libraries

Jim Davis knows his time is running out. But rather than lament his pending mortality, the Shepherdsville, Ky., man wants to make life better for those who will still be here when he passes on.

Davis, who has terminal cancer, has collected more than 50,000 books for needy libraries in the state. The 64-year-old hopes to double that before he dies.

"This is something I can do before I'm gone," he said.

The retired truck driver was inspired to collect books after seeing a television show about high dropout rates, drug use and teen pregnancies in some Eastern Kentucky counties. Recovering from radiation treatments, he began calling friends, asking them for books he could donate to libraries.

"If we don't do something now to keep kids in school and give them a good education, this whole country is going to hell in a handbasket," said the father of four college graduates.

When cancer was found in his brain, lungs and hip, doctors gave him a year to 18 months to live. Treatment led to remission, but the cancer spread to his neck, lower spine and stomach, prompting Davis to forgo future surgery or radiation.

Now he takes medication that improves his energy level, allowing him to better pursue his book campaign.

Good Deed Offsets Bad One for Boy With Down Syndrome

It was a bad thing that happened to Billy. But, thanks to a kind stranger, he's got wheels again.

Two years ago, Billy Crowley, a 14-year-old Massachusetts boy with Down syndrome, received a tricycle from a local support group. But when Billy left the bike in his driveway this October, someone ran off with it.

For Billy's mother, Kathy, it marked yet another setback in a string of bad luck. Recently, her wallet was stolen, her car broke down, and she came down with pneumonia.

Fortunately, as she lay in a hospital, her streak ended. An anonymous donor -- who had read about the theft in the local paper -- dropped off a new tricycle, which was very similar to the old one.

"I'm so thankful," Billy's mom said of the donor. "He brought back my belief in people."

John Mayer's Mug Shot Saves Dogs

Even if you're tired of seeing his mug, you've got to like John Mayer's recent charity stunt.

After Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump was arrested for driving without a license, Mayer confessed, via Twitter, to having been arrested for the same offense in 2001. Then the singer-songwriter challenged celebrity gossip site TMZ to find his mug shot. If TMZ could meet the challenge, the pop/blues artist pledged to donate $25,000 to the charity of TMZ's choice.

Well, TMZ is pretty good with digging up mug shots ...

When the site found Mayer's mug, courtesy of the Atlanta police, TMZ honcho Harvey Levin told him to pay up. Mayer has held up his end of the bet. Ever since, TMZ has posted updates on dogs his contributions have saved -- including a mutt named Mayer.

Stylist Offers Free Haircuts for the Unemployed

A New York City hair stylist is battling cutbacks with haircuts.

As employers continue to lay off workers nationwide, Cristiano Cora is offering free haircuts to the unemployed. Cora, who normally charges $300 for haircuts, first offered the freebies during a two-day event in November. Then he decided to continue offering free cuts every Tuesday until the economy gets better.

"My goal is to make you look good, so you can walk away [and] you feel good," Cora said. "You're going to go for an interview, and feel the energy, and the feeling you have is going to help you get a job."

Anyone is eligible for the free cut so long as he or she can show proof of unemployment.

Leslie Riddle, who was laid off in November, recently took advantage of the free offer so she can look good in her search for new work.

"It's very selfless, and I'm a big believer in the giving-back program," Riddle said.

Woman Returns 'Twilight Saga' Script Found in Dumpster

A tabloid offered Casey Ray a large chunk of money for her discovery. But the St. Louis beauty salon owner thought the gossip rag was too shady. So she returned her find -- a script for the at-the-time unreleased movie 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' -- to its rightful owners.

Months before the vampire movie was set for release, Ray knew the film's plot, having found the top-secret script in a St. Louis dumpster. (The script was possibly tossed away by an actress filming a George Clooney movie there.) While she considered ways to make money from the script, believed to be worth thousands, Ray decided to track down its owners.

As a reward for her good deed, production company Summit Entertainment offered her two tickets to the L.A. premiere of the film. However, the company did not offer to cover airfare, estimated at $1,200.

So we'll offer a Nice One to Ray but a You Could Do Better Nice One to Summit.