Fox News

Over 80 farms in the US and Canada have created "Peanuts"-themed attractions to honor Charles M. Schulz, the creator of beloved characters like Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The first "Peanuts" strip was released 75 years ago by Schulz when he was just 27 years old, eventually becoming syndicated in over 2,600 newspapers worldwide. Jill Schulz, his daughter, expressed gratitude for farmers dedicating their land to her father's legacy while joking about her own lack of a green thumb.

Why Are Farmers Across US and Canada Carving ‘peanuts’ Comic Characters in Corn Mazes?

BBC News

In the Cambridgeshire town of March, one goose has gone from loner to local legend.

Gary, a white-feathered goose with a cracked beak, a few stray black feathers, and striking blue eyes, lives apart from a group of about 18 other geese near the river. While the rest of the gaggle sticks together on a grassy mound known as Tellytubby Hill, Gary has carved out his own patch of territory in a nearby garden—and it’s earned him a devoted fan base.

So devoted, in fact, that supporters have created a charity pin badge in his honor.

The Geese of March Facebook group, which boasts 7,000 members, launched the pin to celebrate Gary’s quirks and raise money for two local animal charities. According to Chrissie Fadip, who oversees the town’s goose-themed merchandise, Gary was an easy choice. “People love him as he is the ultimate underdog,” she said. “No-one likes to see someone isolated on their own or not fitting in with a gang.”

Fadip described Gary as “hilarious” and recalled one interaction that sums him up: “I was once calling him and he appeared to tell me to honk off because he does respond when you call him with a quack.”

The group’s merchandise took off over Christmas, and organizers hope the Gary badge will keep that momentum going. The pin features his unmistakable features—including the signature cracked beak.

Gary’s chosen home is in the riverside garden of Taff Stevens, who said the bird showed up about eight years ago and “sort of stayed there ever since.” A small ramp connects Gary’s boat landing to Stevens’ garden decking, giving the goose his own route between water and land.

“Everybody sort of feeds him and walks by,” Stevens said. “The kids stop to see him before they go to school, and when the boats go up and down the river, he’ll follow them so far and then he comes back. Everybody knows him.”

Not that he’s always charming. “He’s not the friendliest... he will give you a peck,” Stevens added.

But that hasn’t stopped people from looking out for him. Stevens said residents often knock on his door if they haven’t seen Gary for a day or two. In one case, when the river froze over, the community had to break the ice so Gary could get to safety.

Now Stevens is planning to sell his house, but there's a catch: the new owners must agree to keep Gary on. “Otherwise they will upset the people of March,” he said. “He’s very easy to live with. He’s a bit of an antisocial goose, really.”

And yet, that’s exactly why Gary’s captured the town’s heart. A solitary bird with a stubborn streak and a ramp of his own—who now has his face on a pin and an entire town looking out for him.

This Town Just Made a Local Goose a Celebrity—with His Own Pin Badge

People

Sharon Stone left this year’s Astra Awards with more than just a trophy — she left with a new family member.

The 67-year-old actress met an 8-week-old pit bull mix named Mo on the red carpet at the Hollywood Creative Alliance’s annual event on January 9. Stone, who was at the ceremony to receive the Timeless Award, spotted the puppy among a group of adoptable dogs and immediately felt a connection.

Mo wasn’t just there for the glitz and glam. She was one of several rescue puppies brought to the event by Petco Love and The Lovejoy Foundation, part of an ongoing effort to spotlight adoptable animals at high-profile events. This was the fourth year in a row Petco Love partnered with the Astra Awards to bring rescue dogs to the red carpet.

Mo and two of her siblings were rescued from what Petco Love described as a “dire situation.” After arriving safely at The Lovejoy Foundation in Los Angeles, the puppies were given the chance to find new homes — and Mo found hers in the most Hollywood way possible.

Stone stopped for a few photos with the pup and, according to Petco Love, made a quick video call to her youngest son, Quinn, to make sure he was on board. Once he gave the green light, Stone told the foundation she was ready to adopt.

“She’s going to have a great life because she’s going to be my youngest son’s dog,” Stone said. “And my youngest son is absolutely thrilled about it.”

In a statement shared with PEOPLE on Jan. 13, Stone added that Mo has already made a big impact at home. “We love our adorable new puppy. She's brought a lot of joy, cuddles & fun into our home,” she said.

The actress has long spoken about the importance of pets in family life. “I think that dogs and kids go together like peanut butter and jelly,” she said. “I think it’s a good responsibility, and I think it’s good character building for kids. It’s really healthy for kids and for families to have pets.”

While Mo has settled into life as a celebrity’s pet, her siblings are still waiting to be adopted. Petco Love says anyone interested in giving them a home can contact The Lovejoy Foundation. For people outside Los Angeles, more information is available at PetcoLove.org.

As for Stone, Mo’s adoption capped off a milestone night. But the real prize, she says, is the joy that the little pit bull has brought to her family.

Sharon Stone Adopted This Rescue Puppy After Falling In Love With Him On an Awards Show Red Carpet

A Minnesota family’s backyard winter project has captured the internet’s attention — and it started with just a few buckets of food coloring and a lot of cold nights.

Brett and Laura Ashbach, along with their two young children, spent weeks building a 12-foot igloo out of more than 700 hand-colored ice blocks. What began as a snow day activity quickly turned into a full-scale engineering project, a neighborhood attraction, and a surprise viral hit viewed by more than 22 million people online.

“It was our first time attempting a structure made entirely of snow and ice,” Laura, a 39-year-old nurse practitioner, told PEOPLE. “It was a different kind of challenge, and a fun one to take on together.”

The Ashbachs, who live in a suburb of Minneapolis, are used to embracing Minnesota’s extreme winters. But this project took things to a new level. Each block of ice was frozen in an 8-by-8 inch aluminum tin, colored with food dye, and left to harden outside — a process that took one to two days per block, depending on the weather.

Purple turned out to be the trickiest. “More often than not, it froze into a murky gray,” Laura said.

As the blocks stacked up, so did the hours. Brett and Laura each logged about 60 hours of labor — on top of their full-time jobs — carefully building the igloo one layer at a time. The kids helped mix colors, pack down snow, and even chose where individual blocks should go. “Watching the igloo grow day by day was incredibly exciting for them,” Laura said.

The structure itself was built using a homemade mortar made of snow and water, with progress made mostly at night, when temperatures were coldest. Once finished, the igloo stood seven feet tall on the inside, with a 12-foot footprint and glowing LED lights beaming from within.

“When the light hit it just right, it looked almost like stained glass,” Laura said.

But Minnesota weather doesn’t always cooperate, even in winter. Partway through construction, a surprise warm spell melted half the igloo. The family had no choice but to start over. Still, they stuck with it.

Neighbors began to take notice. What looked like a backyard snow fort turned into a glowing rainbow dome, drawing curious onlookers each night. Once complete, the Ashbachs threw an igloo party with hot chocolate, a bonfire, and even pizza delivered right to the frozen doorstep.

Eventually, as temperatures rose again, the igloo started to sag. Rather than wait for it to collapse, Brett decided to bring it down himself — Kool-Aid Man–style. “It worked perfectly and made for a hilarious finale,” Laura said. “What we didn’t expect was that the break in the wall looked almost exactly like the continent of Africa.”

The family posted a video of the igloo online as a way to document the memory. They didn’t expect what happened next.

“It was really just our way of preserving a special family moment,” Laura said. But the video blew up, racking up millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. The family’s account, now aptly named @WhatWillWeThinkOfNext, has attracted followers from around the world.

The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with commenters saying the video reminded them of their childhood, inspired them to try a new project, or simply made them smile.

“That means everything to us,” Laura said. “Because that’s exactly why we built it — to give our kids a one-of-a-kind experience and create memories they’ll carry forever.”

The viral fame has even led to a few unexpected encounters, like coworkers recognizing them from the video. But more than anything, it’s brought the family closer — and sparked ideas for future builds.

“If the weather cooperates, there’s a good chance we’ll take on the challenge again someday,” Laura said.

Her biggest takeaway? Don’t say no to big, weird ideas.

“If your kids ever ask you to build an igloo — or dream up something wildly creative — just say yes. Make the time. It’s completely worth it.”

Minnesota Family's Colorful Igloo Goes Viral, Captivating Millions Worldwide

Gizmodo

After years of delays, NASA’s long-awaited mission to send astronauts around the Moon is finally nearing the launch pad—and it’s shaping up to be one for the record books.

Artemis 2, the first crewed flight of NASA’s new lunar program, is now targeting a February 6 launch. The four-person crew—commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—will lift off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard the massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, riding inside the Orion spacecraft.

It’ll be the first time in over 50 years that humans venture beyond low-Earth orbit. But this mission is more than just a warm-up for the eventual Moon landing. Artemis 2 is poised to break multiple records and mark several historic firsts on its ten-day journey around the Moon.

Back to deep space—for the first time since Apollo

It’s been nearly 55 years since astronauts last left low-Earth orbit. That was in December 1972, when Apollo 17 traveled to the Moon and back. Since then, every human spaceflight—from the space shuttle to the International Space Station—has stayed within about 640 kilometers of Earth’s surface.

Artemis 2 will change that. After reaching orbit, Orion will separate from the rocket and fire its engines to slingshot around the Moon in what’s known as a "free return trajectory." That means the spacecraft will circle the Moon and then use Earth’s gravity to guide it back home.

Once it launches, Artemis 2 will be the first human mission beyond low-Earth orbit in over five decades. And that’s just the beginning.

A new record for distance

Apollo 13 currently holds the record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. That mission, which famously had to abort its Moon landing due to an onboard explosion, looped around the far side of the Moon and peaked at 400,171 kilometers from Earth.

Artemis 2 is set to edge past that. NASA estimates the Orion capsule will reach a maximum distance of about 400,000 kilometers, possibly setting a new benchmark for the farthest human spaceflight in history.

First time humans fly on NASA’s new space hardware

The mission will also mark the debut of two major pieces of NASA’s deep space ambitions: the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule, both flying with crew for the first time.

Artemis 1, launched in 2022, was an uncrewed test flight that sent Orion around the Moon and back. While the rocket performed well, the mission wasn’t without issues. Orion’s heat shield charred more than expected on reentry, triggering a two-year investigation and ultimately delaying Artemis 2’s timeline.

NASA says engineers have since tweaked the reentry angle to reduce exposure to extreme heat. With astronauts now on board, the margin for error is much smaller.

Fastest return to Earth ever

Artemis 2 won’t just travel farther—it’ll return faster.

When Orion reenters Earth’s atmosphere, it’s expected to hit speeds of about 40,234 kilometers per hour. That would top the current record set by Apollo 10, which reentered at 39,897 km/h.

After slamming into the atmosphere, Orion will slow to around 523 km/h before deploying parachutes and splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

A crew of firsts

The astronauts themselves are already making history before even leaving the ground.

Victor Glover will be the first person of color to fly to the Moon. Christina Koch will be the first woman. Jeremy Hansen, from the Canadian Space Agency, will be the first Canadian—and the first non-American—ever to make the trip.

Their selection reflects a shift from NASA’s earlier era of space exploration. The Apollo program, which ran from 1961 to 1972, flew exclusively American male astronauts. Artemis aims to broaden that image and, in NASA’s words, land “the first woman and the first person of color” on the lunar surface with Artemis 3.

Not just a dress rehearsal

It would be easy to think of Artemis 2 as a trial run for the big show—Artemis 3, which aims to put astronauts on the Moon’s surface. But this mission is far more than that.

It’s a crucial proving ground for NASA’s new generation of hardware. It’s a long-overdue return to deep space. And it’s a statement of intent: that after half a century, humanity is serious about going farther.

With China accelerating its own plans for a Moon mission, the stakes are rising. But for now, Artemis 2 is focused on making it off the ground and safely back.

If all goes well, this flight will set the stage for a new era of space exploration—one that reaches past Earth’s orbit and reflects a more inclusive crew charting the next steps into the cosmos.

5 Ways NASA's Artemis 2 Mission is Set To Make Spaceflight History

Thrift Shops are seeing a shift in the UK — and it’s coming from a younger crowd.

Alabare, a homeless charity with shops in Wiltshire, says teenage volunteers are helping attract new customers their own age, creating a knock-on effect that’s giving second-hand shopping a fresh appeal.

“We have quite a lot of younger volunteers,” said Marge Goymer, retail manager at Alabare. “They will then get their friends in and they see the type of stock that we have, and it kind of gives them a passion and enthusiasm for buying second hand.”

One of those volunteers is 15-year-old Cadi, a school pupil who started working at Alabare’s Wilton Emporium as part of her silver Duke of Edinburgh's Award. But even after completing the requirement, she kept coming back.

"I have actually bought clothes for myself [from the shop] and also gifts for my family, just because there is so much that they offer. It's great quality," she said.

Cadi now spends her free time sorting donations, handling the till, and helping design displays. For her, the work is more than just a school requirement — it’s meaningful.

“It’s a privilege to give second-hand objects a new life,” she said. “Volunteering is wonderful, knowing that I was giving back to the community.”

That sense of purpose is rubbing off. Alabare says the presence of young volunteers like Cadi is contributing to what it calls an “emerging trend of young people being proud of getting a bargain and getting something second hand.”

It's also nudging some teens to consider careers they hadn’t thought about before.

Cadi says she’s now thinking about working in the charity sector after finishing school.

And it’s not just the volunteers who are shifting perceptions — young shoppers like Saskia, from Swindon, are joining in too. For her, browsing charity shops is more than just saving money. It's about the experience.

"I feel like it's a little treasure hunt – I enjoy finding and coming across items that I never realised I needed, or wanted," she said.

Saskia occasionally uses resale platforms like Vinted but prefers the experience of being in-store, saying she likes “finding items naturally and organically.”

“It’s just items that have lived a different life,” she added. “Even if they are somewhat used, I like the storytelling of it.”

For charities like Alabare, that attitude is exactly what they’re hoping to encourage — a shift toward conscious consumerism, led by a generation raised on fast fashion but increasingly drawn to sustainability, value, and purpose.

Thrift Stores in the UK are Attracting More Young Customers, With Teenage Volunteers Leading the Way

Football mascots are usually school-age kids living out a dream. But at Edgar Street this weekend, the honour went to a 60-year-old superfan.

Mark Bond, a Hereford FC season ticket holder for decades, was expecting a low-key birthday celebration. Instead, he found himself walking out of the tunnel arm-in-arm with the team — well, almost.

"Andy [Williams] said to me, 'I'm not walking out holding your hand,'" Bond recalled, laughing. "That made me laugh — and was fine by me."

Bond has supported Hereford for 50 years. On Saturday, he showed up thinking he’d be enjoying some pre-match hospitality with friends in the Hereford Suite. Instead, they had secretly arranged for him to serve as the matchday mascot ahead of the Bulls' FA Trophy tie against AFC Fylde.

"I felt like I'd been stitched up a bit, but I was happy to go along with it," he said. "I was a bit embarrassed, but it was quite nice really. At the end of the day, it's my team isn't it? It was nice to go out onto the hallowed turf."

The usual mascots that day were all between seven and eleven years old, making Bond a standout on the pitch — and in the photos.

"It's not me really, but it gave [my friends] a lot of fun, so that's not a bad thing is it?" he said. "I could hear my mates chanting my name from the stands. They loved it, they were having a good laugh at my expense. I think a few of them were secretly a bit jealous."

Despite the moment of glory, Bond confirmed he won't be repeating the performance.

"I would kindly decline. I've done it now, and it can't be topped."

As for the match, Hereford lost on penalties. But for Bond and his mates, the real victory came before kickoff — and will likely be talked about in the stands for years to come.

60-Year-Old Surprises Fans as Unlikely Football Mascot at Hereford FC Match

When Bobby McMann walked into Scotiabank Arena wearing a yellow safety vest and a name tag that read “Kevin,” it wasn’t just a nod — it was a heartfelt tribute to a fan who left a mark far beyond the hockey rink.

Kevin Wilson, a 48-year-old grocery store clerk and devoted Maple Leafs fan, died suddenly last week from complications related to meningitis. To those who shopped at the Loblaws at Lake Shore and Bathurst, he was more than a friendly face at the front of the store — he was a kind, upbeat presence who made even a routine grocery run feel like something special.

On Saturday, McMann — a forward for the Toronto Maple Leafs — honored Wilson with a simple but deeply symbolic gesture. Instead of a flashy suit or designer jacket, he showed up for the Leafs’ game against the Vancouver Canucks wearing the yellow vest Wilson wore every day at work. On his chest: Wilson’s name tag.

“Just a really good spirit, really good person,” McMann told Sportsnet. “Affected a lot of people positively when they walked into that place. And he was just a lifelong Leafs fan. Always wanted to talk hockey, would always record the games, watch them later.”

The two knew each other casually — McMann lives nearby and often shopped at the store where Wilson worked as a front-end service clerk. It wasn’t a deep friendship, but it didn’t need to be. For Wilson, just chatting with a Leafs player — his Leafs player — meant everything.

“There was one time Kevin got some pictures with Bobby,” said Frank Crupi, a hockey influencer and longtime Loblaws customer. “And he was so excited to meet him. And he came up to me, and he was like, 'Bobby McMann, he's my friend, he’s now my friend.’”

Crupi had known Wilson for about four years. Their friendship began with a nod on game days and slowly grew into regular hockey banter in the checkout aisle. “He was like one of the most die-hard guys there was,” Crupi said. “Always had his Leafs jersey on, a Leafs toque, a Leafs pin. He wore the Leafs on his heart.”

Loblaws has set up a memorial at the store, filled with flowers, notes, photos of Wilson, and Leafs gear — including a jersey and scarf. A sign posted by the store reads: “Kevin was the heart of our team and was loved by so many of our staff and customers. It is heartbreaking not to see his smile at the front of our store.”

To the people who saw Wilson nearly every day, he wasn’t just someone who rang them through. He was the kind of person who made a place feel like a community.

“He had this nice warmth to him and he was so friendly, greeting customers. He loved kids. And he always had a smile on his face when I was talking with him,” Crupi said.

Randy and Karen Kushnir, another couple who often chatted with Wilson while shopping, remember him as someone who radiated positivity — especially on Leafs game days.

“We’d say, ‘Big game tonight,’” said Karen.

“Oh yeah, and he was always pumped up,” added Randy.

Nicolas Wen Shea, another regular, said Wilson’s energy never wavered — win or lose. “Always a smile on his face. You wouldn’t know if the Leafs lost 6–1,” he said. “Extreme optimist. Good man. Really miss him.”

Wilson’s death came as a shock to many who knew him. A co-worker has since launched a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses. The fundraiser describes Wilson as “a ray of sunshine,” adding: “He was especially known for his love of the Toronto Maple Leafs, often sharing his enthusiasm and the game scores with everyone around him.”

In the wake of Wilson’s passing, McMann’s tribute resonated across the city and beyond. Crupi called it “a beautiful, significant piece of symbolism,” not just because of the gesture, but because of who it came from — a player who noticed, and cared.

“Bobby McMann is a McMann of the people,” Crupi said.

Toronto Maple Leafs Player Just Honored a Late Fan by Wearing His Work Uniform to the Game

Kare11 NBC

In Faribault, Minnesota, a small-town grocery store has become a lifeline for one family — and the highlight of a five-year-old boy’s day.

Odin Casanova, who has autism, finds comfort in routine and joy in the little things. For him, nothing beats a trip to Fareway grocery store.

"This is his favorite thing to do, probably in the world," says his mother, Taylor Casanova. "I mean, he's not this excited when we go to the pool."

At home, Taylor uses a range of sensory tools to help Odin stay calm and engaged. There's a plastic slide that leads into a mountain of beanbags — a daily release of what she calls “extra wiggles.” But when those tools aren’t enough, she’s got a reliable backup.

“Let’s get in the van,” she tells him. “We’re going to Fareway.”

It’s not the food that draws Odin in — though he does love waffles and root beer. It’s the people. The moment the minivan door slides open, Odin’s feet hit the ground running, straight to the store’s child-sized shopping carts. “Tiny cart!” he yells with delight.

And from there, the real fun begins.

“Haley!” he shouts as he spots Haley Yeo, the store’s produce manager. She drops what she’s doing to meet him with open arms. Odin invited her to his last two birthday parties. She came to both.

“Not every day my customers are that happy to see me,” Haley says, grinning.

Odin continues his rounds.

“Wendy!” he hollers at the checkout.

“Hi Jay!” he beams, waving to a Fareway bagger.

But it’s Maynard Abraham who holds a special place in Odin’s heart.

Maynard, a longtime Fareway employee, bags groceries and delivers them to customers' cars. When Odin sees him walking in from the parking lot, it’s like spotting a superhero.

“You ready to help me bag some groceries?” Maynard asks as Odin barrels into his arms.

Maynard never seems fazed by Odin’s energy or his diagnosis.

“God didn't make nobody perfect,” he says.

The two have developed an easy rapport. “Root beer, I like root beer,” Odin tells him one day. “Waffles, I like waffles too.” Maynard nods, bagging groceries with Odin at his side.

Taylor says Odin even asks for Maynard by name when she picks him up from school. He once made Maynard a birthday card and proudly delivered it in person. She captured the moment on camera — the card, the delivery, and a big hug.

“I think that was the first time Maynard let him hug him,” she says.

For a child who often struggles with transitions and sensory overload, Fareway is more than a grocery store. It's a sanctuary. A place where Odin can move freely, be himself, and feel genuinely welcome.

“He’s wiggly when he arrives,” Taylor says. “But calmer when we leave.”

“It is very tough having a kid with autism, for sure,” she adds. “But this is like one of the bright spots.”

Fareway doesn’t advertise itself as a therapy center, but for Odin Casanova, it might as well be.

Grocery Store Visits Bring Joy to Odin Casanova and His Family — Here's Why

GoodGoodGood

When wildfires scorched nearly 10,000 buildings across Altadena, California, last January, 14-year-old Avery Colvert did something that few teens would think to do in the middle of a disaster: she posted on Instagram asking for help — not for herself, but for her classmates.

“Clothes, personal items, beauty and hair care — stuff WE need,” she wrote. “To help my friends feel confident and like themselves again!”

The plea went viral within days, racking up over 28,000 likes and support from celebrities like Paris Hilton, Charli XCX, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. But it didn’t stop at Instagram. That post became the foundation for Altadena Girls, a nonprofit that has now supported more than 5,000 girls recovering from wildfire trauma and displacement.

It wasn’t Avery’s first time losing everything. Just three years earlier, her family’s home in Nashville, Tennessee, was destroyed in a flash flood. They moved west to start over. When the Eaton Fire hit in 2025, her house was spared, but her school was reduced to ash.

“I don’t even know what I was thinking,” Avery said. “I was going through so many emotions… it was like, ‘I’m just going to do this, and this needs to be done right now.’”

Altadena Girls, which Avery co-founded with her mom Lauren Sandidge, has since grown into a full-scale community operation. In just one year, it distributed over 1 million items — from makeup and hygiene kits to school supplies and back-to-school outfits. They even hosted a prom for 300 girls.

In October, the organization opened an 11,000-square-foot community center in nearby Pasadena, timed to the International Day of the Girl. It features music and podcast studios (sponsored by Fender), quiet study rooms, a boutique for free clothes and hygiene products, and a glittery pink hangout space called the Sliving Lounge, backed by Hilton’s 11:11 Media.

“It’s definitely our most popular thing,” Avery said. “Everyone ends up there.”

What sets Altadena Girls apart isn’t just the scope of the support — it’s the philosophy behind it. From day one, Avery wanted girls to feel safe asking for what they actually wanted, not just what others thought they needed.

“Girls are allowed to have opinions,” she said. “It’s OK to say, ‘I like this sweater instead of that one.’”

After the Eaton Fire, many teens felt ashamed to ask for help, Avery explained. The nonprofit was her way of dismantling that stigma — and giving girls permission to reclaim their dignity.

“She wanted to give something that wasn’t just socks and T-shirts,” said Pamela Price, executive producer of the Hollywood Beauty Awards, which honored Avery with the Beauty Impact Award. “People might think it’s superficial, but it’s not. Hair, makeup, skincare — those things affect how you feel. Avery was thinking about mental health.”

The mental health impacts of wildfires are well documented. A 2021 study following California’s Camp Fire found direct exposure significantly increased the risk of PTSD and depression. For Avery, that impact was personal. She still remembers the discomfort of receiving public donations after the Nashville flood.

“I felt embarrassed. Guilty,” she said. That memory helped shape Altadena Girls’ focus on privacy, respect, and personal choice.

Inside the new community center, there’s no pressure to participate in anything. “You can come in and learn guitar,” Sandidge said. “But the priority is that their basic needs are met — they’re fed, they’re safe, they’re relaxed. That’s when people can make good decisions.”

For Journey Christine, a 12-year-old actress who lives nearby, the space has become “a blessing” — a way to reconnect with classmates displaced by the fire and rediscover joy.

“It’s like my new home away from home,” she said. “It shows other kids that just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference.”

Avery, now 15, has become the youngest-ever recipient of the TIME100 Impact Award, and her organization was named California Nonprofit of the Year for Senate District 25. Still, she and her mom are focused on what’s next.

“We want to keep it free,” Sandidge said. “And it’s not free to run.”

They’re forming a teen advisory board to guide future programming. For Avery, it’s crucial that the space stays grounded in the people it serves.

“It has to be for girls, by girls,” she said. “We need their feedback.”

For Sandidge, the long-term goal is simple: help girls plan their futures based on who they are, not on what they’ve lost.

“There are emotional needs that don’t go away just because the headlines do,” she said. “This gives them something to build on.”

Teen's Viral Instagram Plea Spurs Creation of Community Center for Fire-Affected Girls in California

At just 16 years old, Tomás Machuca needed a pair of shin guards. What he didn’t have was money to buy new ones — so he improvised. He took an old plastic bucket from the backyard, cut it with a saw, heated it with his grandmother’s hairdryer, and shaped his own.

Eight years later, that DIY solution has evolved into Fenikks, an award-winning Argentinian organization that recycles plastic waste into high-quality shin guards for kids who might otherwise go without.

Now 24, Machuca is the founder and CEO of Fenikks, which distributes recycled shin guards to 56 underserved communities across Argentina.

“In Argentina, 57% of children and adolescents live below the poverty line,” Machuca told Beyond Sports after being recognized by the International Olympic Committee for his contributions to sports sustainability. “It is difficult for their families to put food on the table and, even more so, to be able to provide them with the necessary elements to practice sports.”

That reality was personal for Machuca. Growing up as a young football player, he knew what it felt like to go without.

“I decided to find a way to make my own,” he recalled. That first pair, rough and homemade, even included a design created in Microsoft Paint — decorated with images of his family.

What started as a fix born of necessity turned into a bigger vision: using plastic waste to fuel opportunity.

In the past five years, Fenikks has recycled more than 2,000 kilograms of plastic and produced over 5,000 pairs of shin guards, all distributed free of charge to young athletes.

But the project goes beyond just gear. Each delivery comes with a message about sustainability and the environment.

“We work so that in every neighborhood where a child plays barefoot, we can share the importance of caring for and maintaining the cleanliness of living spaces,” Machuca said. “And provide sports equipment of all kinds.”

The work earned him recognition not just from the IOC, but from global sports and sustainability leaders. Yet for Machuca, the mission stays grounded: give kids the tools they need to play, grow, and dream — all while keeping waste out of landfills.

It all started with a broken pair of shin guards, a plastic bucket, and a burned-out hairdryer. Now it’s changing lives.

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