Honest Homeless Man Returns Lost $2,000, Then Donates Cash Reward To Charity!


A homeless man from Greater Victoria in British Columbia, Canada, is getting a lot of attention even though his identity still remains a mystery. The unidentified man, who is reportedly in his 60s, was hailed for his honesty when last week, he walked into a police station to report about the $2,000 he found. The homeless man, who was perhaps more in need of the cash than the person who lost it in the first place, walked into the police station and told them about the wade of cash he had come across. Luckily for the owner, the police were able to track him down and return the money, ABC News reports.

The story of this homeless man’s honesty was published by several media outlets in Canada. This was followed by a massive interest in him, with several people coming forward to help him. To reward his honesty, Mike Kelly, founder of Victoria Buzz, a local news website, created a GoFundMe account to raise money. Within a few days, they were able to raise over $5,000 — more than double their intended target. The man, who had decided to remain anonymous, needed to be tracked down in order for the officials to give him his reward.

Constable Alex Bérubé from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police took personal interest in finding the man and he eventually did find him. However, when he told the man about the impact his act of honesty had on people and the fact that he had earned well over $5,000 for just being honest, the man surprised Alex again!

Instead of asking Alex how to cash the money and have the money all for himself, he asked if there was a way he could donate the same money to charity! He mentioned that he would like to donate his reward to Our Place Society — which is an inner-city community center serving Greater Victoria’s working poor, impoverished elderly, mentally and physically challenged, addicted, and the homeless, Beacon News reported.

Alex recalls his amazing experience with the man.

“After hearing this story and seeing how this case touched so many people, I took a personal interest in finding this man, looking for him everywhere while on and off shift. It’s not easy tracking down a person of no fixed address and no phone, but I kept trying because I needed to tell him about how the community had rallied together to help him.”

He adds,

“The man’s response surprised me yet again, when instead of asking how to collect it, he asked me how to donate it to Our Place and other food service providers for people in need.”

The homeless man reiterated that he did not wish to be identified and went about his way. He also left a note that reiterated his wish. The only help he has asked from people is to help find him a job.

Meanwhile, in a press release issued by the RCMP, Mike Kelly is quoted,

“Here is a man who is facing many challenges, yet despite that, he chose to do the right thing and see that another person wasn’t left short thousands of dollars and facing the challenges that would bring them. Now I’m going to do everything I can to help find him a job that fits his personal situation, and will hopefully move him closer to overcoming his current challenges.”

Do you think this homeless man is perhaps the most honest man you have ever heard of? This story also reminds us of another homeless man hailed for his honesty.

[Image Via Wikimedia Commons]

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