Ordinary Iowans who performed extraordinary acts of kindness in 2025
Acts of kindness can bring a smile like nothing else. Here are nine of our favorite everyday stories in 2025, from rescuing animals to ending local hunger.
In many ways, 2025 has been a challenging year. Rising political tensions have left many people discouraged or frightened, and economic uncertainty has only deepened these feelings. This, of course, crescendoed this fall during the country’s longest government shutdown, which put everyday people’s healthcare, food affordability, and more at risk. This disproportionately affected low-income households, though the whole state was stuck in a scary limbo. After all, according to U.S. News & World Report, Iowa’s economy ranks 44th among the 50 states. Any extra pressure on top of that certainly doesn’t feel comfortable.
Suffice it to say, we’ve seen better days in Iowa, and many of us have looked for escapist ways to forge a smile or see a better tomorrow. Some have put all of their faith in Iowa’s magical winter festivals for the 2025-2026 season, while others have taken matters into their own hands by extending kindness in any way they can. Today, we’re looking at the latter, rounding up myriad feel-good stories to bring a touch of brightness to your holiday season. So, here are some of our favorite acts of kindness from everyday Iowans in 2025.
1. Iowa Farm Sanctuary saved this dairy cow at the last second
Many of the acts of kindness on this list were for other people, but we’re starting with a more unique case that was nonetheless rooted in good-hearted aid: the rescue of a beautiful dairy cow. Iowa Farm Sanctuary, located in Oxford, is run by Shawn and Jered Camp, who aim to rescue animals and let them live out their lives on their beautiful farm.
Case in point, the farm’s Instagram account posted an update video on October 27, informing its followers that their collected donations helped save a Jersey-Holstein crossbreed cow named Trudy, who was scheduled to be slaughtered in mere days. The video footage shows Trudy living happily on the farm, clearly happy to call Iowa Farm Sanctuary her new home.
2. A veteran’s son set out to honor veterans with a documentary
Veterans Day may always be on Nov. 11, but a local filmmaker from Cedar Rapids took it upon himself to celebrate the veterans in his community early this year. You see, Jeremy Glazier has a long history with the military, beginning at his birth in Japan, where his father was stationed at the time.
According to KCRG, Glazier felt that the Vietnam War was too often excluded from the conversation, with World War II and Korean War veterans being celebrated more than their counterparts. As such, he interviewed veterans and compiled a documentary to tell their story, uplifting his community in the process. “I just kind of wanted to tell the story of what it’s like to go, as the title is, from Iowa and Back, which is, you know, a lot of these guys grew up in really small towns,” Glazier told the outlet.
Sadly, Glazier’s father passed away before the film was finished, but he did make it into the final cut. The next step? A book is on the docket, as Glazier hopes to further cement these veterans’ stories.
3. This Hawkeyes player made a child feel special during the annual Kids’ Day
Once a year, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes hosts its Kids’ Day, which sees its players bonding with youngins from the Stead Family Children’s Hospital for a day. It was in August this year, and while the entire event was beautiful—the kids got to experience an open practice day with the footballers—one particular bond tugged at our heartstrings.
As detailed by KCRG, linebacker Kelby Telander from North Liberty spent time with Luke Johnston, and the two hit it off quickly because of their shared experiences with cochlear implants, small devices that help folks who are hard-of-hearing or experience deafness. Not only that, but their implants are in the same ear, so they understood each other a little better. “It feels cool and very special,” Johnston told KCRG. Is anyone else tearing up, or is it just us?
4. Three high schoolers saved a man who fell on train tracks
Train tracks are one of the scariest places to fall, and sadly, that nightmare became reality for one older man last October. In February this year, news emerged that three students—Clinton Ring, Paul Clannery, and Davidson Hartman—from Gateway High School in Ottumwa had helped the man after seeing him from the third story of their school building. They ran outside, guided him across the train tracks, and walked him two more blocks to his bus stop.
The report came courtesy of CBS contributor David Begnaud, who interviewed the three seniors and uncovered an extra layer to their “superhero” actions. You see, Gateway High School is a nontraditional high school, and its students can get a bad rap. But as the trio told Begnaud, they just hope that this action serves as a lesson for everyone to “not judge a book by its cover.”
5. This student was celebrated for her kindness, and she doubled down on it
In Oskaloosa, the Cops for Kind Kids program recognizes a local student who exhibits kindness each month with an award, but one recipient only wanted to continue paying kindness forward. According to KCCI, November’s selection, Fallon Cronin, was quickly chosen by her teachers after she started a dance party to uplift other students.
It all started with Cronin dancing for one other person, and now it’s become an infectious jitterbug that makes the students’ days. After being selected for the Cops for Kind Kids program, she decided to double down on her kindness by forgoing an award and giving her prize to the local Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter, to which the police donated $200 worth of goods.
6. One family jumped into action to keep stomachs full while the government shutdown raged on
This fall’s government shutdown was the longest in U.S. history, and it was the first to leave SNAP recipients fully without benefits. One family in Waukee saw the writing on the wall and decided to step up for their community, establishing a “porch pantry,” per KCCI. The family in question is helmed by Alli and Brock Johnson, and the two literally erected tables on their front porch. From there, they organized rows of shelf-stable products like crackers, canned vegetables, and microwave popcorn.
“The need is actually greater than we even imagined,” Alli explained to KCCI. The two went into the venture not knowing how in-demand the food would be, but they quickly saw the “porch pantry” being utilized. Luckily, other community members began pitching in food and money to keep the initiative going. “But we also now don’t feel like we can stop, because we’ve seen what kind of need there is,” Brock added to the outlet. SNAP benefits have resumed, but it seems like this power couple may continue this initiative to ensure no one in their area goes hungry.
7. This family gave a dog a new lease on life after he’d been shot
Harming animals is a new level of low, but that was sadly how one dog’s life went in Ames—that is, until he found a family that now cherishes him. As explained by KCCI, the dog, nicknamed “Good Boy,” had been shot and left for dead, but he was rescued and placed in a foster situation with local resident Joanna Mugli. Luckily for him, Mugli and her family fell head over heels for the pup, and after a few months of getting to know each other, everyone involved knew they needed to spend much more time together. Now, he can continue being a good boy for this family for years to come.
8. An Ankeny student spent two weeks working on an art project for a peer
Childhood friendships are about as pure as they come, and this is evident in one Ankeny student’s kind-hearted art project for a fellow student who has Down syndrome. According to KCCI, sixth-grade student Harper Zarling from Prairie Ridge Middle School knew how much Liam Keith adores his dog, Chewy. So she set out to create an adorable digital illustration of the pooch for Keith, who couldn’t complete the digital art assignment.
She committed to the project at home this May, spending a full fortnight perfecting the art, which turned out exactly like a ceramic of Chewy that Keith had previously made. The moment Keith saw the art for the first time is precious, and you can watch it here.
9. A hairstylist brings free services to students to help them feel and look their best
Des Moines’ Howe Elementary School received an aesthetic upgrade this March when hairstylist Mae Jackson, who owns and runs Mae Slays Braids, set up shop in the school library. Her goal? To make the kids feel and look their best. “Hair is literally the first impression someone gets of you. It’s deeper—it’s about how people perceive and judge you,” she told KCCI.
Not everyone knows how to properly care for a variety of hair types, so Jackson specifically wanted to step up to bat for a school that has students from myriad backgrounds. Her initiative was free for the students, with all of her time and supplies donated to the young lives she was uplifting. “We have coarser hair. It takes more time, it needs more love. Sometimes it takes an extra hand to help, and I love being that extra hand to help,” she added to KCCI. A truly beautiful venture, if you ask us.
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