Man accidentally leaves $13,000 in donated suit
IOWA CITY, Iowa - One man trying to get rid of an old suit donated a bit more than he intended.
A gentleman in his 80s told Goodwill he accidentally donated a grey suit containing his life savings, totaling $13,000. According to Goodwill for the Heartland Vice President of Marketing Dana Engelbert, the cash is either in a bag in one of the pockets or sewn into the lining of the jacket.
"It's the first time at our Goodwill that someone has lost this amount of money," Engelbert explained. "What happens time to time is people tend to donate the dry cleaning pile instead of the Goodwill pile."
"Typically, we hear about that really quick," she said with a laugh.
Engelbert added that from time to time staff will find $100 or so in donated items, and they happily return the cash to the people who realized their mistake.
After man notified Goodwill about his accidental act of kindness, the company invited the family to search to Moline, Ill. store where the item was sent to. Unfortunately, they were unable to find the suit. Goodwill employees also are checking in their regional warehouse, where items are sent when they are out of season. Engelbert said the suit might have been sold to some unknowing customer.
The Associated Press reports that the money was going toward medical expenses from his wife's battle with cancer. The family is offering $1,000 reward to the person who returns the cash.
The Goodwill spokeswoman said that many people have reached out to donate to the family directly, but the man has declined to accept donations. The man's daughter did provided a statement about the donations to WQAD-TV in Moline.
"Our family would like to thank each and every one of you that have come forward wanting to make a donation to my father for the money he has lost," the statement read. "We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity from around the world. My father's wishes are to respectfully decline any donations of any kind. He only wanted someone to come forward with the money he gave away by mistake. God bless all of you. Sincerely, Our Family."