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The homeless man that captured media attention across Canada for turning in more than $2,000 to Vancouver Island police says he doesn’t want the thousands of dollars raised for him by people touched by his story.
West Shore Mounties were blown away earlier this month when the unidentified Good Samaritan, who is in his 60s, arrived at the detachment to hand in thousands of dollars in found cash.
His selfless actions inspired a GoFundMe page, started by social media site Victoria Buzz, that has raised more than $5,000.
Const. Alex Bérubé became intrigued with the unusual goodwill story, and made it his mission to track down the man who has become the subject of so much attention – and charity.
“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,” the officer said in a statement issued to media.
But when Const. Bérubé found the man earlier this week, he was surprised by his reaction to finding out about the thousands of dollars waiting for him: He doesn’t want to cash in. Instead, he just wants to pay it forward, and help those less fortunate.
“He asked me how to donate it to Our Place and other food service providers for people in need,” he said in a statement issued to media.
Investigators with the West Shore RCMP told the man to “think about it overnight,” but he returned to the detachment the next day sticking to his request that all the money be donated.
But the selfless man, who does not want to be identified, did ask for one thing: Help getting a job.
Mike Kelly, the Victoria Buzz staffer that set up the fundraising effort, said in addition to managing the growing donations coming in, he will spearhead the effort to get him a job.
“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,” Kelly said in a statement.
The original owner of the $2,400 found on the street has come forward and collected the money from the detachment.
The homeless man who turned in thousands of dollars penned this letter to police to say he wants to donate the money raised to help him. (RCMP)
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/homeless-good-samaritan-turns-down-5-000-asks-for-job-instead-1.2440240
The homeless man that captured media attention across Canada for turning in more than $2,000 to Vancouver Island police says he doesn’t want the thousands of dollars raised for him by people touched by his story.
West Shore Mounties were blown away earlier this month when the unidentified Good Samaritan, who is in his 60s, arrived at the detachment to hand in thousands of dollars in found cash.
His selfless actions inspired a GoFundMe page, started by social media site Victoria Buzz, that has raised more than $5,000.
Const. Alex Bérubé became intrigued with the unusual goodwill story, and made it his mission to track down the man who has become the subject of so much attention – and charity.
“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,” the officer said in a statement issued to media.
But when Const. Bérubé found the man earlier this week, he was surprised by his reaction to finding out about the thousands of dollars waiting for him: He doesn’t want to cash in. Instead, he just wants to pay it forward, and help those less fortunate.
“He asked me how to donate it to Our Place and other food service providers for people in need,” he said in a statement issued to media.
Investigators with the West Shore RCMP told the man to “think about it overnight,” but he returned to the detachment the next day sticking to his request that all the money be donated.
But the selfless man, who does not want to be identified, did ask for one thing: Help getting a job.
Mike Kelly, the Victoria Buzz staffer that set up the fundraising effort, said in addition to managing the growing donations coming in, he will spearhead the effort to get him a job.
“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,” Kelly said in a statement.
The original owner of the $2,400 found on the street has come forward and collected the money from the detachment.
The homeless man who turned in thousands of dollars penned this letter to police to say he wants to donate the money raised to help him. (RCMP)
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/homeless-good-samaritan-turns-down-5-000-asks-for-job-instead-1.2440240
