A California teen went out of his way to return a woman’s purse he found in a shopping cart. He saw the address on the driver’s license and drove to the address to return the purse. An elderly woman opened the door, which was recorded on a doorbell camera.
Later, it was discovered that the purse belonged to Melina Marquez’s friend Eliana Martin. She had lived with her but had not updated her address after moving out. So it was her aunt who received the purse instead of her. After learning about the good deed, she asked if her aunt had given the 17-year-old some money to thank him.
They could not repay his kindness as they did not know his name. So they posted the Ring camera video to social media. Soon enough, the California teen identified himself as the person in the video. Adrian Rodriguez explained to them that his mom raised him like that. She taught him to do the right thing even when no one is watching.
He added that if he lost his stuff, he would want someone to bring it back. Martin and Marquez called these two good reasons to reward him. But it wasn’t just they who wanted to reward him. Their friends and family also chimed in and offered $20–$50 when they found the boy. The duo set up a GoFundMe for him with the aim of collecting $1,000 for him. The amount surpassed $3,000, proving that Rodriguez’s good deed did not go in vain.
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The video went viral on social media, garnering over 35 million views. The netizens appreciated the teen as well as the woman who set up the GoFundMe to reward him. One viewer commented, “Maybe my favorite part of this is that the kid didn’t want anything in return, not even recognition. Didn’t tell everyone his name, record a video, ask for money, anything. Just returned the purse and went on his way. So cool.”
Another one posted, “I like that those women tried to find him and reward him. Very good people all around.” One viewer shared his own experiences, “I returned an elderly woman’s purse many years ago. She got my address and sent me $50, which at that time was a fortune for me. I used the money to buy a new pair of shoes that immediately relieved a lifelong foot pain I had been suffering. As an elderly man now, I smile when I go for very long walks. I remember HER kindness.”
One more noted, “That kid’s mom is an absolute angel, and she raised her son to be just as wonderful.” Such moments are proof that a little kindness and consideration can go a long way.
Disclaimer: The Inquisitr could not independently confirm the facts of this incident and is reporting based on the information available within the public video record.
