Free Hugs for All

"I came back from overseas," says Juan Mann (a pseudonym), "and everyone just seemed so miserable, so I thought I'd see if I could do something to cheer people up a bit." And so Juan Mann set out to a local mall with some simple, hand lettered signs that read, "Free Hugs."

At first, people were hesitant. Free hugs? Personal contact with a stranger, in this day and age?

But eventually, one person came up for a hug. And then another. And then still more. Before long, people were queueing up to receive their hugs, and more had volunteered to distribute them, taking their own Free Hugs signs.

Men, women, children, some sad and some laughing, some barely patting the Free Huggers on the back, others throwing themselves into the Huggers' arms. Before long, there was a swelling of love and joy throughout the crowded mall.

When the police tried to shut the Free Huggers down because they didn't have any insurance in case someone got injured, 10,000 people signed a petition to let the hugs keep flowing.

Juan Mann and his Free Hugs have become a sensation on YouTube, and have been featured on Good Morning America. The trend has caught on, with people offering Free Hugs in Taiwan, South Korea, and in front of the Busch Stadium before the World Series games kicked off.

Watch the inspiring video, set to music by Sick Puppies, to see the steps that One Man - Juan Mann - made to make the world a better place.

Do you have a story about someone who has improved the world with steps large or small? Tell me about it in the comments!

How Does The Hunger Site Work?

It seems like it's too good to be true, but you can really help end hunger, save the rainforest, fight illiteracy, and more by taking just a few seconds of your time to click some links, thanks to an ingenious advertising offer from The Hunger Site and its related charities.

The idea is that advertisers pay for placement on The Hunger Site, and part of their fees goes to a good cause. Oftentimes, portions of sales made through those advertisements are also donated to the charities.

The main beneficiary of the donations is The Mercy Corps, which passes 90% of all donations directly to the charity programs. Mercy Corps has received a top, 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

It's a win-win deal for everyone. Advertisers get a wonderful placement with viewers who are motivated to become buyers. The Mercy Corps gets a low-cost way to generate revenue. And we netizens get to make a real difference in the world at no cost to ourselves, and with very little time.

The Hunger Site - definitely a Step in the Right Direction.