As the year has drawn to a close and we face 2015, sometimes a bit of post-holiday depression sets in. January is one of those key times where we can either give in to cynicism as we watch countless friends and acquaintances ditch their well-meaning resolutions two weeks into the year, or we can strive to stay positive and keep the motivation going until the momentum of spring comes along to save us.

If you’re hanging on by a thread and need a little humanitarian hope to carry you through the last part of the winter, check out these four uplifting tales of people helping others in their time of need, through the miracle of crowdfunding.

Check out these uplifting tales of people helping others in their time of need, through the miracle of crowdfunding.

Bring Ralph Home

When 81-year-old Ralph Bolen had some hospital treatment in 2010, he could not have imagined that he would get caught in a bureaucratic “safety net” that would force him into a nursing care facility and keep him from returning to his home. Bolen fell behind on his co-op fees during his illness, and eventually the co-op put a lien on his property, putting him in a cycle of being perpetually behind on payments and not being able to do anything about it.

One of Bolen’s neighbors, a woman named Trisha White, saw what was happening to Bolen and knew that he wanted nothing more than to come home. Recognising that money was needed to fix the problem, White decided to crowdfund Bolen’s co-op fees, legal fees, and some home repairs, with astounding results. She was able to raise the necessary cash, and this October, nearly four years after he left, Ralph Bolen was able to return home.

My Buddy Brayden

It’s astounding how much empathy children can have for others, and when it comes to helping out their friends often they will do whatever it takes. When seven-year-old Brayden Grozdanich, diagnosed with cerebral palsy, was given the option to have a life-changing surgery that would allow him to walk, his family struggled to find the money to move forward with the procedure. When Brayden’s friend and classmate, Quinn Callender, learned of his pal’s predicament, he set up a lemonade stand to try to help raise money for the surgery.

When Brayden’s friend learned of his pal’s predicament, he set up a lemonade stand to raise money

Quinn’s parents saw that although their son’s heart was in the right place, it would take him too long to raise any significant amount of cash, so they decided to boost his efforts by helping him set up crowdfunding for Brayden’s surgery. The campaign raised more than three times the money Quinn was asking for, and the Grozdanich family were able to travel from Canada to the United States for the surgery.

Give Now to Help Gabriel

The Fleming family, from South Carolina, made it their mission in life to help those less fortunate through humanitarian aid work around the world. Shortly after arriving in Cyprus on one of their missions, they discovered their son, Gabriel had a lump on his leg. After extensive rounds of testing, it turned out to be lymphoma, and at one point the Flemings were told to prepare for the worst, that their son would likely not make it through the night.

A friend of the Flemings, Leigh Essig, knew that the family was struggling to pay medical bills in Cyprus, and that they wanted to come back to the United States and continue Gabriel’s treatment at home. Essig started a crowdfunding campaign to help the family out, and as donations poured in, the family was able to come home and get Gabriel the help he needed. The campaign has nearly reached its goal, and Gabriel is currently starting a new round of chemotherapy as he fights his lymphoma.

A crowdfunding campaign enabled the family to come home and get Gabriel the help he needed

Niyakko Rush Soccer Club

Aurora, Colorado has become a new home to many refugees from countries where military and political upheaval has made conditions unbearable. These families often have children, who, through no fault of their own, are forced to deal with a huge wave of culture shock, and have to try to make sense of the major life changes that have been thrust upon them at such a young age.

Most of the kids have one interest in common: soccer. Volunteer coach Jason Hicks helped to put together a team for the children of the refugees, called the Niyakko Rush, but the group ran into an obstacle when it doubled in size and carpooling was no longer a practical option. Unable to afford transportation to and from games, Hicks decided to try to crowdfund $5,000 to buy a used van.

Although the going was rough for a while, Hicks promoted the campaign heavily, and with just hours to go, the team reached its goal and was able to purchase a van.