What to do with the money?

[Snobdds]

No, I'm a retired 70-year old who plays on his tractor for fun. I enjoy helping people. I have been helped enough in my lifetime. I guess I consider myself a neighborhood non-profit.

RSKY

I quoted 2rocks.

 

[2manyrocks]

RSKY has come up with a plan to leverage that unexpected $100 to do a lot of things for his neighbors that they could never get done for that amount of money considering what someone else would charge to do these things if they could even find someone who'd do them.

 

[bigtiller]

My area has a charity called Greater Love Ministries. It is all volunteer ran. They give food and a few bits of clothing to the local people who are down on their luck.

Maybe your area churches support something similar?

 

[JohnSm33]

Got a phone call from a lady I did not know. She was looking for somebody with a small tractor to till up a garden for her sister. Her sister, Sandra, lives in our neighborhood and is one of the group that looks after another neighbor who is a disabled friend of mine. The lady that called said her sister has arthritis in her hands and can no longer use her tiller to break up her garden. The garden tilling is to be a birthday present. I didn't realize that she had a garden every year because it is hidden behind her house. I said of course I will, just tell me when you want to do it. The lady said she would pay me for my time and use of my tractor. I said no, I do this all the time for free, I will not accept money for doing something I look at as entertainment. We argued and she laughed and said she would make a donation to my church or favorite charity. So two days ago she shows up at our house and comes in and talks to my wife and myself. As she turns to leave she gives me an envelope and tells me to not open it until she leaves. Inside were five $20 bills! A note inside said to donate the money or use it as I saw fit.

If Sandra had mentioned that she wanted a garden tilled I would have driven the quarter mile to her place and tilled it up for her for free with not a thought about it. I do it for others all the time.

My wife thinks it is funny because of my 'old man in the neighborhood' title I have bestowed upon myself. BUT, I am feeling guilty over the money.

That’s such a wholesome story — really shows the kind of neighbor everyone wishes they had. You clearly did it out of kindness, not for the money, and that’s what matters most. Honestly, I wouldn’t feel guilty at all. She just wanted to show appreciation in her own way. Whether you donate it, treat yourself, or help someone else with it, it’s still an extension of the same good deed you already did.

 

[RSKY]

As a final note to this story.

Another neighbor runs a charity that attempts to toke care of pregnant single mothers and their babies. a few months ago on our Facebook Neighborhood Watch page she mentioned that they had lost a grant and was asking for donations to help make up the shortfall. After talking it over with my wife I went to the house the charity works out of to make a donation. Once I got there and was talking to the lady in charge (our neighbor) I remembered the $100 given to me and increased the amount by that much when I wrote the check. As usual when talking to neighbors, this is Kentucky you see, I spent over a half hour talking about nothing in particular with the lady. She said that she knew the money would be made up from the neighborhood because people are always stopping by and leaving things or donating money.

RSKY

 

[orezok]

I can tell you are not a business man with no concept on reinvesting the profits...

That’s the problem with MANY business men. They only have greed for profits and NO reinvestment for humanity.