Sin City is doing something good for its less fortunate citizens as well as those who've broken the law this month. The city of Las Vegas, Nevada will drop any parking ticket fines for those who make a donation to a local food bank.
A parking ticket can cost up to $100 in Las Vegas but the whole thing can be forgiven by bringing in non-perishable food items of equal or greater value to the Parking Services Offices at 500 S. Main Street through December 16.
The program is designed to help the less fortunate during the holidays.
All donations go to Helping Hands of Vegas Valley, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that works to provide assistance to frail and low-income seniors in North Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Valley.
The organization focuses its work on providing seniors with access to nutritious food, transportation for medical appointments and other necessary errands, and assistance with minor home repairs.
The following public safety-related parking tickets are excluded from the program:
Any handicap violation
Red curb
18 inches from curb
Blocking an alley
No parking areas
Fire lane
Traffic hazard
No stopping
Sidewalk
Double parking
Bike lane
Blocking or facing traffic
Too close to intersection, crosswalk or stop/yield sign
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According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, one in six residents of Clark County worry about whether they have enough food to eat. That's a greater percentage of the population than the rest of the United States which is about one in nine.
The Las Vegas area was hit especially hard by the Great Recession in 2008 but appears to be making a comeback with unemployment now back to pre-recession levels.
Las Vegas has been running charitable programs to help the less fortune via parking ticket fines since 2016. Earlier this year, the city accepted donations of school supplies in lieu of parking ticket fines.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.