If you’re feeling the swell of gratitude this Thanksgiving season, why not spread it within your community by giving back? Though SNAP benefits have been restored across the country, food banks are still experiencing a boom in demand — so calling your local food pantry is a good place to start if you’re looking for volunteer opportunities this week. You can also use VolunteerMatch or Samaritan Scout to search for other options in your area.
A vintage VW bus — and symbol of resilience — got a new lease on life
Culture
The Very Last Pennies Minted May Be Worth Millions
Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
How much is a penny worth? The answer might seem obvious (1 cent), but as collectors know, some rare editions of the copper coins are incredibly valuable. That’s certainly the case for the Omega pennies, which are the last-ever minted pennies and bear a unique “Ω” mark. The decision to stop penny production came down to simple economics, per Popular Science. For the past two decades, pennies have cost more to make than they are worth, and they’ve become somewhat obsolete. So, on Nov. 12, the U.S. Mint produced its final sets using the die casts seen above — and they’re not your average pocket change. The last batch of pennies consists of 232 three-coin sets to commemorate the 232 years since the currency’s inception in 1793. Each set includes a Philadelphia-minted penny, a Denver-minted penny, and one made of 24-karat gold. It’s unclear just how much these coins will command at the Dec. 11 auction hosted by Stack’s Bowers Galleries, but some enthusiasts suggest they could sell for $2 million-$5 million apiece. See renderings of what the Omega pennies look like. (And note that, though probably only worth 1 cent, the pennies you still have lying around remain legal tender.)
Together With Haven
Growing Local Roots, Together With Haven
Haven locations offer a trifecta: It’s childcare, a workspace, and fitnessall under one roof.And as the brand continues to expand through franchising, its mission remains deeply personal. That’s because every new location is more than a business — it’s a community cornerstone. Whether you’re a parent, a neighbor, or a dreamer, each franchise owner is dedicated to bringing balance, belonging, and support to families in their local community. From fully licensed childcare to shared and private workspaces, as well as an in-house fitness studio, every Haven club reflects the heart of the people behind it. Together, owners are bringing to life “little nuggets of hope” across the country, proving that when communities come together, everyone thrives. It’s more than childcare, it’s familycare.™ Ready to join the movement? Click below to learn how to bring Haven to your community.
Put your money into one of the big, red vending machines dotting 126 cities in 21 countries this holiday season, and you’ll get a lot more out of it than a bag of chips or a soda. Light the World Giving Machines are stocked with cards representing over 4,000 tangible items for more than 500 nonprofits across the globe. All users have to do is select a specific item or dollar amount to donate to the charity of their choice. “It’s a machine that enables a person to give — rather than receive,” reads a news release from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which first launched the holiday initiative in 2017. “Items vary by city, but a typical machine includes food, clean water, clothing, shelter, health care, education support, hygiene kits, bedding, job and career training, and even livestock such as chickens, goats, pigs, and beehives.” Since its inception, the project has generated nearly $50 million in donations. “It’s so fun to think about how what begins as a three-to-five-minute experience in front of one of these machines turned into a lifetime change for a family or even just one young woman,” said Emily Belle Freeman, the church’s young women general president. “That’s such an amazing and remarkable thing for all of us to be able to participate in.” Find a Giving Machine location near you.
Health
Opening Doors: Dementia Care Is Becoming More Inclusive
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Dementia can irrevocably alter a person’s world, rendering loved ones strangers and familiar places foreign. This is why most older adult care facilities have separate memory care units, where dementia patients are isolated to prevent wandering or potential harm. The downside of this, however, is that many residents with dementia try to leave such facilities precisely becausethey feel sequestered, Lori Todd, executive director of Loomis Lakeside at Reeds Landing in Springfield, Massachusetts, told NPR. Todd is among a growing cohort of health care experts and people affected by dementia advocating for a more integrated approach to memory care. Instead of separating dementia patients from their peers, Todd and her team teach residents of the retirement community how to be good neighbors to those living with cognitive impairments. “We’re not isolating them, just as we wouldn’t isolate people that all had congestive heart failure or diabetes,” she said. Some family members feel locked memory units are safer for patients with dementia, but experts like Kirsten Jacobs of LeadingAge suggest that protective instinct shouldn’t override other considerations. “What do we lose … when we focus solely on one type of safety, without acknowledging the richness that can come from a life that allows for some freedom and flexibility and autonomy?” she posited. Ann McIntosh, a Loomis Lakeside resident, told the outlet she applauds the inclusive approach and is grateful she can help her neighbors. “Just simply being able to keep them involved makes me feel better, because we’re all part of the same community,” she said. Learn more about the new philosophy.
In Other News
Roger Federer was elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in his first eligible year (read more)
Moss lived for 283 days in space, surprising scientists by surviving amid the harsh cosmic elements (read more)
A Frida Kahlo self-portrait broke the record for the most expensive piece made by a female artist ever sold (read more)
Scientists unearthed artifacts from a 300-year-old shipwreck believed to contain a wealth of sunken treasure (read more)
An owl encased in concrete took flight once more after being rescued by a rehabilitation center (read more)
Inspiring Story
Starting a new chapter — and making a difference
In 2013, 64-year-old retiree Ed Levien answered a call for volunteer EMTs in Bethesda, Maryland, and, after passing the physical, joined the ranks of his local rescue squad. “I called up and said, ‘I’m probably too old.’ They said, ‘If you can pass the physical, we’d love to have you,’” Levien, now 76, recalled. Over the years, he racked up more than 13,000 hours with the service and now trains the next generation.
Photo of the Day
Salah Malkawi/Getty Images
At the second annual Jordanian saffron harvest festival last week in Mafraq, women carefully separated stigmas from petals to extract the brightly hued spice — a complex, labor-intensive process. The festival, hosted by the first Jordanian farmer to cultivate saffron on his farm, celebrates the crop’s tremendous value in the region. Indeed, saffron is one of the world’s most expensive spices, but thankfully a little goes a long way: Here are some ideas for using it in your own cooking.
Franchising With Haven: Where Purpose Meets Possibility
Owning a Haven franchise empowers you to pursue your entrepreneurial dreams and be part of a supportive business system. As an owner, you’ll help address the childcare crisis while giving your community access to better well-being. It’s more than a business — it’s creating a space where everyone thrives together. Discover how passion and profit can grow together in Haven’s latest video: “Franchising with Haven.”
