It's easy to write a column when I'm fired up about something.

But as I searched through emails, sifted through Twitter and dropped on to Facebook several times, I realized the one thing inspiring me was good news. Stories written for a community newspaper can be about a huge range of topics, but the one constant is readers willing to give of themselves to help other people, animals and the environment.

Sifting through dozens of emails today I took a second look at some of those notes sent in hopes the Courier can help get the word out. Often we don't have the space or time to get to them so I'd like to highlight some of the inspiring Courier readers and their causes. These are just a fraction of the emails, letters and phone calls the Courier receives each week.

Eileen Mosca, a board member of the Grandview-Woodland Community Policing Centre on Commercial Drive, called this week to say Grandview Park is being redeveloped. Recently the field house has become the target of nasty graffiti. Not content to leave it as is, Mosca and a group of volunteers will paint over the mess with a mural this Sunday, which is Mother's Day.

Mosca refers to the project as a "temporary art installation," because the field house is being torn down July 1. Despite the fact their artwork will only remain for two months, these community members feel it's important to step up. By the way, they're looking for volunteers to help paint Sunday.

A local charity that got its roots through the Gospel Mission in the city's Downtown Eastside celebrated its second anniversary last weekend and logged in its 1,000 shower. The Lord's Rain provides homeless people an opportunity to shower, put on clean clothes, meals and even the chance to watch Canucks games. The facility was designed and remodelled by volunteers, and volunteers run the program. A hot shower and clean clothes can mean the world to someone living on the street, so the services these volunteers provide are priceless.

I recently received an email from a woman writing on behalf of a friend whose Kingsway store, RubyDog's Art House, is at risk of closing. This reader describes the owner, Leanne Bishop, as the "most socially responsible person" she ever met and says the shop is a wonderful source for odd art goodies, reclaimed art supplies and vintage ephemera. Unfortunately, writes Claudia, it looks like this neighbourhood favourite is about to close.

An email I received last month came from a volunteer with the Golden Retriever Club of B.C. Because this story isn't Vancouver-based, it was difficult to find space for it, but today I decided any group that goes to this much effort to try and find a golden retriever with special needs a home deserves mention. Apparently three-year-old Willie suffers from the occasional seizure and his longtime south Surrey owners have been forced to give him up due to health concerns of their own. If there are any readers out there with room in their hearts and in their home for a special needs pet, give the Golden Retriever Club of B.C. a call.

And speaking of dogs, local seniors worker Jen Wright spent the past several months moving mountains to bring a dog she found starving in Costa Rica to Vancouver. And that's exactly what happened this past weekend. Callie, as she's now named, arrived Saturday night and Wright is desperately trying to find her a new home. Anyone interested can email her at jennwright7@shaw.ca.