There's a cynical old saying that "no good deed goes unpunished." That adage has proved true for an elderly Illinois man who accidentally gave away his entire life savings when making a clothing donation to his local Goodwill.
The 80-year-old man, who didn't trust banks, had kept his life savings of $13,000 sewn inside the lining of one of his suits. He is currently appealing for the money's return so that he can care for his wife, who has Stage 4 cancer.
Goodwill spokeswoman Dana Engelbert said the charity has searched the Moline store where the man made his donation but could not find the suit in question. "We're sorting through the donations that came in at the time," Engelbert explained. Goodwill employees are also searching through bins of donated clothes transported from the Moline facility to a regional warehouse in Iowa City.
"We're hoping it's still there and we can find it for them," Engelbert said, "It's their life savings. It's important."
The man's daughter, who says he is remaining anonymous because he is "devastated and embarrassed" by the story, is offering a $1,000 reward for the suit's new owner to return the cash.