A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

Real Life Stories

You’ve got to read it to believe it! These true stories seem almost too good to be true, but we promise that we couldn’t make these up. From love to loss and from survival to unbelieavable coincidences—we’ve got the wildest stories to keep you informed, entertained, and inspired.

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Wayne, WV

When you're in Wayne, be prepared to wave to passersby -- but if you see trouble, you've got to go...


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Charlton, MA

What's not to love about small-town living? If you live in Charlton, it's great, with a lively "city" full of...


El Paso, TX

El Paso is right on the Mexican border and shares culture and more with its sister city, Juarez. It's also...


Anahuac, TX

As the alligator capital of the world, Anahuac is full of reptiles, though the people there are anything but cold-blooded.


Buda, TX

People come to Buda to breathe easy, but the generosity of this little town's residents just might take your breath...


Gatlinburg, TN

When wildfires swept this community tucked away in the Smoky Mountain, they found refuge in the only place they could...


Brandy’s Porch in Boonville, MO

There's a place you go in Boonville to relax, catch up and feel the love of your community: It's Brandy's...


Ilion, NY

Lounging out on your front porch in Ilion is a treat -- but make sure you have your waving hand...

Mountain City, TN

When a fellow motorist was driving oddly, one Mountain City man leapt to the rescue -- and perhaps saved his...


Fairhope, AL

Nobody is a stranger in Fairhope, because as soon as you meet someone, you're friends!


Lemon Grove, CA

Good weather and helpful neighbors characterize this California town.


St. Cloud, FL

If the balmy weather and lakeside views don't entice you to come to St. Cloud, the generous charity and friendly...


Prescott, AZ

A sprawling desert city sweltering under the scorching Arizona sun, Prescott residents are always ones to keep a cool head...


Rochester, MN

"Minnesota Nice" is palpable everywhere you go in this small-but-cosmopolitan city. People travel from all over the world to be...


Fargo, ND

#FargoNice is real. And thanks to the town's championship football team, Bison fans and Fargo residents take their friendliness with...


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Port St. Lucie, FL

In this town of beautiful beaches, all the residents make it their business to keep it a clean and friendly...


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Spring Lake, NJ

People are warm and friendly in Spring Lake, a town where you can forget your troubles and the hustle and...

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Fulton, MS

Fulton is the kind of place where when someone needs something, the whole town pulls together to get it for...


Dublin, OH

Finding a place to live that's as wonderful as this Ohio town requires a lot of luck. Just ask the...


Lowell, IN

If you're not careful, you might confuse Lowell for Andy Griffith's Mayberry, as good hearted people abound and that old...


Livermore, CA

With one of the highest volunteer rates in the country, Livermore doesn't just talk the talk -- they walk the...


Fortuna, CA

A small town with pioneer roots, Fortuna's wild landscape and rustic rodeos are the mixture responsible for Fortuna's irresistible Western...


Best Little Hair House in Yukon, OK

Walk into the Best Little Hair Shop and you'll feel it right away: the aura of kindness. The ladies who...

Charleston, SC

In the nearly 27 years I have had the privilege of living in Charleston, I can say the people here


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Bayside Community Church in East Bradenton, FL

Bayside Community Church is more than just a place of worship -- it's a community organization that strives to do...


FINALIST: Kalamazoo, MI

Bursting at the seams with kindness, it's impossible not to rave about living in this Michigan city -- just ask...


Westbury Neighborhood in Houston, TX

The Westbury neighborhood of Houston is full of love, and that means donating time and money to causes that are...


Kiawah Island, SC

Life on Kiawah Island is pleasant, with bike trails and beaches with gentle surf. The residents are always happy to...


Wood Village, OR

This tale of two cities has a much happier ending than Dickens scripted, as Wood Village and Fairview combined forces...