Volunteers: Latest News

PHILADELPHIA - The fire siren at Langhorne-Middletown Fire Station doesn't sound often, but when it does, the whole community knows. The volunteer fire station located in a rural Bucks County suburb averages less than two calls per day, and received less than 650 last year. "The only time that siren blows is when somebody calls 911, so we're not blowing it for the heck of it," Fire Chief Frank Ferry told FOX 29's Hank Flynn. Still, a growing number of community members have called for the "disruptive" siren to be removed in favor of a more advanced alert platform. "It's a quiet town, it's like Mayberry here, and the siren is disruptive," Councilmember Scott Haldeman said. "I took a couple of years to investigate all these other fire departments and spoke with them, and they shut it off because they say it's not needed, so why is it needed here?" MORE LOCAL HEADLINESA 2019 report found that 60% of firehouses in Bucks County still used sirens.

Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant, which is widely regarded as safe for healthy adults at about 400 milligrams per day, or roughly the equivalent of four or five cups brewed at home.Coffee has been associated with multiple health benefits and even a lower risk of dying, based on large studies that observed participants’ behavior. Despite research that has shown moderate coffee consumption doesn’t raise the risk of heart rhythm problems, some professional medical societies still caution against consuming caffeine.The latest research:Researchers outfitted 100 healthy volunteers with gadgets that continuously monitored their heart function, daily steps, sleep patterns and blood sugar.

Firefighters had to rescue a man that was found pinned beneath a 2,000-pound safe. (Credit: Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department) GLASGOW, Va. - Firefighters in Virginia had to rescue a man who became trapped underneath a 2,000-pound gun safe. The Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department said crews responded to the incident on March 9.Firefighters said the man became pinned underneath the safe after it had fallen while being unloaded. They said the safe was severely unstable when they arrived.

PHILADELPHIA - What started as a passion for one Philadelphia woman, has given promise to dozens of girls in need of a loving, supportive home.Naima Powell has worked to change the lives of young people in Philadelphia for 20 years, and Saturday she unveiled her first center - a home for girls ages 10 to 17.The 3-bedroom house on Regent Street in Southwest Philadelphia will soon be home to six children whose families are unable to care for them.Powell, the found and director of Lighthouse Family Youth Agency, is determined to provide young girls with the comfort and security of knowing they are loved and supported. "Youth will come in through the welfare system, and our goal is to teach them and advocate with them to be the best versions of themselves," Powell said.She's been a foster mom for 20 years, providing a loving home for 15 years."My mom raised me since I was two months old after my biological mother wasn't really there for me, and built me into the person I am," said Divine Cannedy, Powell's daughter.As a social worker, Powell says her lifelong goal is to help children reach their full potential."Children between the ages of 10 to 17 need the guidance, need the support, they need people who are accepting of them," she said.

Volunteers shovel a new buffalo snow corridor by hand. (Buffalo Field Campaign) WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. - Volunteers have created a wildlife corridor by hand shoveling a path through the deep snow at Yellowstone National Park to help bison get off a nearby highway quicker.Nearly five feet of snow fell this winter in West Yellowstone, resulting in giant berms created by snowplows along Highway 191, according to the Buffalo Field Campaign, a nonprofit that works to create permanent year-round protection for bison.YELLOWSTONE UNDERGOES CLOSURES TO PREPARE FOR SPRING TOURISM INFLUXConcern has been growing for as many as 500 bison from Yellowstone’s central herd who are expected to begin migrating to their calving grounds when park officials begin plowing this month.In an effort to protect the species, the Buffalo Field Campaign decided to take action to help Yellowstone's declining wild bison population which is expected to be reduced by at least 30% this winter.

PHILADELPHIA - A volunteer discovered vandalism at the African American History Trail at Iron Hill in Newark, Delaware earlier this week."We had tremendous vandalism over the weekend. We had someone destroy all of the signage that we had along the trail," said Robin Broomall, President of the Board of Directors for the Delaware Academy of Science.

Police began an investigation on March 8 after being contacted with "concerns for the safety of a child," and located the baby on March 9 "along the road in the 5300 block of Delaware Street in Warren County." On Monday, officials said that Megan Sta A mother and grandfather in Iowa were arrested after allegedly killing a newborn baby.The Norwalk, Iowa police department said in a press release that Megan Staude, 25, gave birth to a baby in the last days of February. Investigators say that with the help of her father, 64-year-old Rodney Staude, the baby was "left to die" and disposed of along a street in the town.Police began an investigation on March 8 after being contacted with "concerns for the safety of a child," and located the baby deceased on March 9 "along the road in the 5300 block of Delaware Street in Warren County." On Monday, officials said that Megan Staude and Rodney Staude had been arrested.Megan Staude and Rodney Staude are being charged with first-degree murder in the newborn baby's death, police said.IOWA MAN DIED IN ‘DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS’ AFTER SON, GIRLFRIEND DENIED HIM CARE: POLICEAccording to KCCI-TV, Megan Staude's coworkers contacted police after becoming suspicious when noticing that she wasn't pregnant anymore and finding that her story didn't make sense. Police said that the baby's body was found a few miles from their house, the report states.VIDEO SHOWS OFF-DUTY CHICAGO COP IN DEADLY SHOOTING OF ASSAILANT: ‘I TOLD YOU I’D SHOOT YOU'Law enforcement and professional volunteer searches assisted in locating the baby.CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPOfficials say that an autopsy was conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner, with results pending.

WEST PHILADELPHIA - A local nonprofit is partnering with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to provide free tax preparation services in an effort to help families get more money back into their pockets.Brittany Brown said she learned about the free service during her 5-month-old daughter’s doctor’s appointment."I would rather have a professional have their eyes on it," said Brittany Brown. "I think that it will help us in the long run, especially for working families."Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the nonprofit Campaign for Working Families is offering the service with the goal of building financial well-being for individuals and families."We don’t want to leave any dollars on the table," said Dr.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization, and National Policies on Wednesday (8) issued an Order to waive the remaining balance of the Special Commodity Levy on imported Dates in view of the Ramadan festival.The levy, set at Rs. 200 per Kg, will be collected at a reduced rate of Rs.

PHILADELPHIA - You may notice more dogs on the street as you walk around University City, thanks to a new service dog program launched at the University of Pennsylvania that provides military members with a therapy dog.The program, a partnership with the nonprofit, Warrior Canine Connection, describes its work as "mission-based trauma recovery," where Veterans get to interact with dogs from birth through adulthood, training them to act as service dogs for fellow service men and women.Paula Crawford-Gamble, nurse and retired captain in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps, who now leads Penn's Veterans Care Excellence Program, spearheaded the initiative at Penn.

More than 125 acres in the Stafford Forge Management Area in Little Egg Harbor Township have been scorched in a wildfire that officials say is still 0% contained.  LITTLE EGG HARBOR TWP., N.J. - More than 125 acres in the Stafford Forge Management Area in Little Egg Harbor Township have been scorched in a wildfire that officials say is still 0% contained. Shortly before 1 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service alerted that crews were responding to an active wildfire off Route 539. After hours of battling the flames, fire officials begun a backfiring operation to aid in containment as the fire quickly spread and threatened 16 nearby structures. Local volunteer fire companies are on scene providing structure support as the fire fully engulfs several dozen acres of land.As of 3 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service alerted that the fire is still rapidly spreading and is not at all contained. Route 539 between Forge and Warren Grove roads are closed as a result of the fire. 

BUCKEYE, Ariz. - The adoptive mother of a boy who went missing in 2016 and was later found dead in 2018 in Buckeye has been arrested, police said.On Dec. 13, Buckeye Police announced that 54-year-old Crystal Wilson was arrested at her home in Gainesville, Georgia in connection to the death of Jesse Wilson.Crystal Wilson was extradited to Maricopa County in March and is jailed on a $50,000 cash bond.Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall said at a news conference that there wasn’t enough evidence to charge Crystal Wilson with homicide, but she was the main "person of interest" all along."We never gave up hope that justice was going to be served," said Jesse's grandmother at the news conference.As Crystal Wilson returns to Arizona, a criminal defense attorney says the case of Jesse Wilson's death shares some similarities with another high-profile murder case."This case has a lot of similarities to the Casey Anthony case.

A South Carolina woman was arrested after nine puppies were found abandoned inside of a trash bag. (Credit: Spartanburg County) PAULINE, S.C. - South Carolina authorities have arrested a woman after finding nine puppies abandoned inside a trash bag. Officials said on Feb.

BUDA, Texas - Texas Game Wardens and zoo staff captured and removed a 7-foot-long alligator from a Texas home. The woman raised it as a pet.A neighbor of the Buda, Texas "pet" owner reported the illegal animal, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

CAMDEN, N.J. - Celebrations in honor of the American Red Cross and its volunteers, donors and partners are happening all throughout the month of March.This is now the 80th annual celebration for the humanitarian nonprofit that was founded back in 1881 by Clara Barton.On Sunday, the New Jersey Region held a kickoff event aboard the Battleship New Jersey in Camden.Distinguished speakers included Captain Warren Judge of the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen and Camden County Commissioner Melinda Kane."We are first on the ground when there’s a major disaster. Our volunteers mobilize, whether it’s a house fire here in New Jersey or a flood or hurricane anywhere in the country. We scale up, we go, we help people in need," said Regional CEO Rosie Taravella of the American Red Cross of NJ.

BUCKEYE, Ariz. - The adoptive mother of a boy who went missing in 2016 and was later found dead in 2018 in Buckeye has been arrested, police said.On Dec. 13, Buckeye Police announced that 54-year-old Crystal Wilson was arrested at her home in Gainesville, Georgia in connection to the death of Jesse Wilson.Crystal Wilson was indicted by a Maricopa County Grand Jury and is accused of abandoning or concealing a body.

A Lanarkshire charity that supports people's mental health through music has launched more meet-ups at a new location.

PHILADELPHIA - It’s been one year since a law went into effect in Philadelphia, meant to combat racial profiling and make traffic stops more equitable across the city. The controversial measure banned traffic stops for minor infractions like bumper issues and driving with missing headlights."If pulling people over made this city safer? I’d be the first volunteer for my rights to be violated.

Then-Capt. Paris Davis poses for an official U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Mayor Jim Kenney and other city leaders announced the progress of their gun violence intervention program on Tuesday. City workers, law enforcement officials, and volunteers came up with a program that targets gang and group violence. The program, which launched in August 2020, is an evidence-based approach to gun violence.The program's creation is based on the premise that only about 0.5 of one percent of the city’s population may be linked to 60 to 70 percent of shootings and homicides.Program Director, Deion Sumpter, says they track social media activity and meet weekly with law enforcement and other partners to discuss those very individuals and how to approach them.

Prince William and Kate Middleton’s foundation has announced a new collaboration to help create therapy allotments and gardens offering mental health support in south Wales. The Prince and Princess of Wales visited the site where the first garden will be developed at Brynawel Rehabilitation Centre, near the town of Pontyclun in Wales on Tuesday to mark the announcement of the social enterprise partnership. The royal couple’s charitable organisation is working with Life at No.27 – a horticultural therapy and mental health counselling provider – to scale up its gardening mission, with six gardens eventually being created across south Wales.

SAN MATEO, Calif. - A Bay Area nonprofit said thieves had stolen a bus that carries supplies to cancer patients.The bus has been recovered. But it's damaged, and almost everything inside was stolen."This is our mobile resource center.

EAST MOUNT AIRY - Philadelphia police are investigating vandalism of an Islamic community center and mosque. Police and mosque leaders would like to find the person responsible.It happened Friday night into Saturday at Masjidullah and it’s caught on their cameras.They do feel this was intentional and deliberate.The cameras show a man getting off the bus, heading directly to their building and taking out supplies.MORE HEADLINES:Fortunately, they say the outpouring of support from the community and other religious organizations shows whatever the person was trying to accomplish didn’t work.Surveillance video at Masjidullah shows a man exiting the bus at Washington Lane and Limekiln Pike Friday night, walk up to their front entrance, then turn away and immediately head to the back of the building.It was at the back of the building leaders say the man, who they do not recognize, spray-painted and physically used a can of paint to vandalize doors and a brand-new refrigerator for their food pantry.Philadelphia Police Northwest Detectives are investigating."We were totally shocked about what we saw," Resident Imam Idris Abdul-Zahir said.

A policeman carrying an automatic rifle stands guard with a colleague along a popular market street in Manila, Philippines, on June 1, 2022. (Ted Aljibe / AFP via Getty Images) A New Zealand tourist died in the Philippines while trying to defend his girlfriend from bikers, kicking off a manhunt for his killers. "We regret to report this incident and extend our sympathy to the bereaved family," police Maj.

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio - Amazon donated more than 1,400 cases of bottled water to residents dealing with the aftermath of a derailed train in East Palestine, Ohio, which resulted in a controlled release and burn of hazardous fumes and environmental health concerns over the quality of air and water.Amazon’s Pittsburgh and Cleveland sites partnered to donate and help distribute over 1,400 cases of bottled water on Wednesday morning, the company confirmed to FOX Television Stations. East Palestine, a village of just under 5,000 residents, is located near the Pennsylvania state line. More than 30 Amazon employees from both regions volunteered to take part in the effort. Volunteers are pictured distributing bottled water on Feb.

Kate McKenna starts her days much like the other parents on her street. She drives her kids to school and returns to her bungalow on a cul-de-sac south of Vancouver.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, left, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and Rep. Bill Johnson, right, drink tap water during a visit to a woman's home near the site of the East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment, Tuesday, Feb.

Camilla, the Queen Consort has pulled out of a visit to a food redistribution charity with King Charles as she continues to recover from Covid. Charles, 74, made a solo trip instead to meet staff and volunteers at The Felix Project in east London on Wednesday morning. Buckingham Palace said Camilla had made an “excellent recovery” but was taking time out ahead of a busy day of royal engagements on Thursday.

ATLANTA - Former President Jimmy Carter remains in hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. The Carter Center made the announcement regarding the president's health over the weekend.

People walk past collapsed buildings in Antakya, southern Turkey on February 20, 2023. - A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit near Gaziantep, Turkey, in the early hours of February 6, followed by another 7.5-magnitude tremor.

Former President Jimmy Carter, who at 98 years old is the longest-lived American president, has entered home hospice care in Georgia.His name will forever be tied to politics in the U.S., a moderate Democrat who served the 39th presidency term as an "outsider" in the wake of the Vietnam War and the Watergate scandal. But his name is also synonymous for many with the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, have worked extensively with Habitat for decades.

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - There’s a 24-hour community fridge in South Philadelphia and it’s having a huge impact on the community by feeding so many people. But, now they are seeking the public’s help.There are thousands of people in Philadelphia who have food insecurity.

File: Duangpetch Promthep, 13, a forward and captain of the Wild Boars football team, attends a Buddhist ceremony at the entrance of Tham Luang cave on August 3, 2018. (Photo by Thierry Falise/LightRocket via Getty Images) The captain of the boys’ soccer team that was dramatically rescued from a flooded cave in Thailand in 2018 has died in England while attending a sports academy, reports say. Duangpetch "Dom" Promthep of the "Wild Boars" team was one of 12 players who along with their coach became trapped in the Tham Luang cave during an unexpected rainstorm in June that year. Faced with tremendous challenges, a team of the world’s most experienced divers navigated the maze of flooded, narrow cave tunnels.

MANASQUAN, N.J. - Officials in New Jersey are investigating the death of another whale after they say one washed up on Manasquan's inlet beach on Monday. Police say they are unsure of what kind of whale it is, but they guess it's a calf, roughly 65 feet long. Authorities say they are pulling the whale out to more shallow water with hopes it doesn't get caught in the rocks. They say they do not have an exact time frame of when the whale will be removed, but it is expected that it will remain on the beach until Tuesday.The Marine Mammal Stranding Center, located in Brigantine, is volunteering with the investigation of the whale death, type, and cause of its arrival to shore. Police say they will not have any more information until the volunteers finish their investigation.

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Camilla, the queen consort and wife of Britain’s King Charles, has tested positive for COVID-19.

Search and rescue efforts continue at collapsed buildings after 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes hit multiple provinces of Turkiye including Kahramanmaras, Turkiye on February 13, 2023. Citizens continued to wait around the debris.

On Sri Lanka’s 75th Independence Day, Gammadda gave the people of Hengamuwa village in the Kobeigane region of the Kurunegala District something to celebrate, by providing a source of safe drinking water to the entire community, with the presentation of a Reverse Oscillation (RO) Plant.This community, which relies on agriculture and whose produce feeds thousands in the nation, had no source of healthful drinking water. The water in the wells was not of suitable standard for drinking and authorities seemed deaf to the pleas of the villagers.

Residents in Wishaw and the surrounding areas are being invited to make new friends and become more active by joining new health walks.

The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) – 2023 bilateral exercise successfully concluded in Sri Lanka  on 26th January 2023. Hosted by the U.S. Pacific Fleet in partnership with the Sri Lanka Navy, CARAT – 2023 Exercise was held in Colombo, Trincomalee and Mullikulam from 19th to 25th January.The closing ceremony of CARAT – 2023 was held on board ‘USS Anchorage’ at the pier side of Colombo harbour under the auspices of U.S.

PHILADELPHIA - Santa Claus may have already made his rounds, but plenty of helpful elves in the form of volunteers are making sure everyone gets a Christmas in Philadelphia."The important thing now is to take care of the children, and really give them the joy of Christmas," said Brian Jenkins, executive director of Chosen 300 Ministries. The local non-profit handed out warm meals and over 500 wrapped gifts to families and children in need on Christmas Day."This is about Jesus Christ being born, bringing joy to the world, and giving his ultimate gift to us," Jenkins said. "We are simply reciprocating it and extending that love."MORE HEADLINES:Volunteers come together every year to lend a helping hand and provide a Christmas to as many families as possible.

Sri Lanka Navy which is held in high esteem as the First Line of Defence of the Nation is marking the organization’s 72nd Anniversary today (09th December 2022). At the directives of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, a wide range of programmes are being conducted in each Naval Command, giving prominence to time-honoured naval customs and religious practices. In addition, capital ships of the Sri Lanka Navy will rest at anchor off the Galle Face Green today (09th December), giving the public an opportunity to have a glance at some of the major ships of the Sri Lanka Navy.Coinciding with its anniversary, 222 officers as well as 3548 senior and junior sailors were promoted and advanced to their next higher ranks and rates on 09th December, at the recommendation of Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne.

A Bonhill taxi driver has launched a new mens’ mental health group to meet a growing need for support and help those stuggling with the emotional turmoil of the cost-of-living crisis.

COLOMBO (News 1st) – Well-known retired civil servant Dr. (Mrs.) Bandumathie Kottahachchi passed away recently. Dr.

A before and after example of a photo restored by Fort Myers photographer Krista Kowalczyk after Hurricane Ian. (Image credit: Impressions Photography) A Fort Myers photographer is putting her talents to use helping families salvage photos damaged by Hurricane Ian storm surge and debris.Photographer Krista Kowalczyk and owner of Impressions Photography has helped dozens of families recover photos damaged by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida and has tips for others who hope to save their photographs. It started when Kowalczyk went to help her friend's 98-year-old father, who experienced flooding at his home.

JENKINTOWN, Pa. - A longtime tradition in Jenkintown is no more and community members are not happy.First Covid stopped it. Now, the annual homecoming bonfire is over for good. But, why? Students say the large bonfire anchors the annual homecoming tradition."I was going to go this year.

NEW CASTLE, Del. - Out of all the loss, devastation, and heartbreak that has come from Southwest Florida this week, there is still hope for some of the displaced, four-legged victims of the storm.The Brandywine Valley SPCA organized a rescue airlift of shelter animals from Florida following Hurricane Ian's catastrophic damage. On Monday, 68 animals arrived in New Castle, Del., on a Wings of Rescue Flight, ready to be adopted into their next loving family as early as Tuesday. "Many of these animals quite rankle would have never made it out," said Laura Page of Brandywine Valley SPCA. The animals were adoptable in Florida shelters prior to the storm.

WILDWOOD, N.J. - Hurricane Ian may have run its course through Florida, but the deadly storm isn't finished with the Jersey Shore just yet. Angry waves are tearing through sand dunes, causing major flooding across the New Jersey coast. The beach in Wildwood has narrowed since chunks of sand have been washed away in the surf.

PHILADELPHIA - While the Delaware Valley experiences remnants of Hurricane Ian, residents in Florida are scrambling to clean up and rebuild their communities after the category four storm devastated the sunshine state and killed more than 80 people. Luckily, hundreds of trained American Red Cross volunteers from Southeastern Pennsylvania are helping Floridians deal with the aftermath.Jennifer Graham, Executive Director for the Delaware Valley Red Cross, flew into Miami and drove across the Gulf Coast.