The generosity of a somewhat mischievous anonymous stranger has inspired a White Rock senior to add $200 to the Peace Arch News Christmas Fund.
Joe Connolly said he was inspired to donate the cash after attempts to find the owner of a crisp $50 bill he’d found outside a White Rock thrift store last week unexpectedly grew the cash cache to $100.
Connolly said he was heading into the Superfluity Shop on Prospect Avenue Tuesday (Dec. 11) when the chain of events that led to the donation kicked off: he found $50 at the foot of the stairs.
While his first thought was “oh, lucky me,” Connolly said his mind quickly shifted to the owner of the money, and what the loss of that $50 could mean to them, particularly at this time of year.
Inside, he asked an acquaintance who’d entered the store moments before him if the money was his – and got the shock of the season.
“At that moment, a man reached over my shoulder and said, ‘Here’s another $50, keep them both,’” Connolly said.
“He said, ‘I was wondering how honest the person would be that picked them up.’”
A “flabbergasted” Connolly said he immediately tried to return the funds, but the tall, good-looking stranger would have none of it, simply smiling when asked if he’d planted the bill.
Wednesday, carrying on the goodwill, Connolly brought the bills to Peace Arch News, doubled the total and handed over a cheque for $200 for the Christmas Fund, a long-running effort that helps make Christmas brighter for the less fortunate on the Semiahmoo Peninsula.
“It’s how $50 grew to $200,” Connolly said.