It is Father’s Day, but Melinda isn’t happy. She is 500 kilometers away from her parents, and she can’t spend the special day with her parents. In the morning, she calls her father and wishes him a happy Father’s Day.

In the afternoon, Melinda and her husband take their children, Ted, Cindy and Betty, to the old people’s home. They bring lots of beautiful flowers, food and drinks to the old people there. Melinda cooks delicious food for the old people. Her husband and Ted have nice talks with some old people. Cindy and Betty sing and dance for the old people. And the old people also tell them funny stories. Then they have a great dinner and all of them are happy. When the old people get the flowers, they thank Melinda and her family.

On their way home, Melinda’s children ask her, “Why do we go to the old people’s home today?” Melinda says, “It’s Father’s Day, and some old people there don’t have children. I have all of you, and I still have my parents. What we do today means (意味) a lot to them.”

About one year ago, my grandfather was ill. His illness influenced (影响) his legs, which made it difficult for him to walk. Then my family started looking for nursing homes. It took us two weeks before making a decision. Unluckily, he had to stay there until he improved. Then I knew the care and service old people needed and how important it was to volunteer at a nursing home.

I did volunteer work at my grandfather’s nursing home last summer. I volunteered two days a week during the summer. I learned many things about nursing homes, including the old people’s life, the care they received and the environment around them.

I worked with Dr. Smith, the one who planned activities for the old. I read their children’s letters to them. Besides, I helped them on special days like Ice Cream Day, Summer Picnic Day and Clown Around Day. I also took the old people for walks. We also had birthday parties for them.

I had many good experiences both volunteering and visiting my grandfather. My volunteering experience showed that I could bring joy to old people. Everyone will have to face their parents and grandparents growing older.

When Vivienne Harr was 8 years old, she saw a photo she would never forget. It was a photo of two young boys carrying large, heavy rocks on their backs. These children were the same age as Vivienne. But they did not have the same freedom and chances that she had.

In some parts of the world, children have to work hard and they can’t go to school. Vivienne wanted to change this. “I want all kids to be able to go to school and play,” said Vivienne, now 10. “I want them to be happy.”

To help raise money for children like the two boys in the photo, Vivienne started a lemonade stand(柠檬汽水摊位) near her home in Marin County, California. She worked every day for a year, rain or shine. “Sometimes, it was hard for me, when the weather was bad or I wasn’t feeling well,” said Vivienne. “But I knew that some children were having a harder time than I was.”

Vivienne’s goal was to raise $100,000 in 365 days. On Day 175, she achieved(实现) her goal. But that didn’t stop Vivienne from working. With the help of her family, she started Make a Stand. The company(公司) now puts Vivienne’s lemonade into bottles and sells it in 130 stores around the U.S.A. Small part of the sales go to help achieve Vivienne’s dream—to make the world a better place for all children.