Billy Ray Harris returns the diamond engagement ring to owner Sarah Darling. (image: KCTV5)

A homeless man who returned a diamond engagement ring to a woman who mistakenly dropped it into his donation cup when she was giving him some spare change now stands to be handsomely rewarded for his selfless act.

A fund set up on GiveForward.com for Billy Ray Harris, the man who was panhandling on the streets of Kansas City, Mo., earlier this month when he received the valuable donation in error, had gotten more than $146,000 in donations as of Monday evening.

“It is good to know honesty still exists despite one’s circumstances which Mr. Harris exemplifies!” wrote one poster, who donated $25. Another who gave $100 added: “People from all over the world salute.”

The donations – more than 6,000 of them in varying amounts – have come in from all over the United States, as well as from Germany, Sweden, Australia, Ireland and other countries. In addition to the congratulations and good wishes that they offered, some donors also urged that Harris receive help to manage the money that was earmarked for him.

Harris himself seemed to be bemused by the outpouring.

“What I actually feel like is, what has the world come to when a person returns something that don’t belong to them and all of this happens?” he said last week in an interview with KTNV-TV, an ABC News affiliate in Las Vegas.

When Harris saw the unintentional donation in his cup on Feb. 8, he kept it safe until its owner, Sarah Darling, returned to ask about it. Her wedding and engagement rings had reportedly been bothering her, so she removed them and put them into her purse, and that’s how they ended up in Harris’ cup, KCTV reported.

News of Harris’ act – and Darling’s gratitude – have spread. KTNV-TV reported that complete strangers have sought Harris out to congratulate him and give him food.

The fund was started 10 days ago by Darling’s husband, Bill Krejci. It will close in 80 days, at which time the money will be given directly to Harris, according to a note on the fund’s web page.

In a note that Krejci posted on the website on Feb. 23, he wrote that he had met with Harris and they had chatted.

This is the ring Sarah accidentally dropped into the coin cup. (image: news.com.au)

“We talked about a lot of things related to my family’s ring and the many donations. We talked about one day in the future the ring may one day be passed down to my daughter. We talked about how insanely positive all this has been. We talked about what he’s planning to do with the donations. The details would be better left for later but know that he has a very solid plan and a very solid way of making it happen,” Krejci wrote.

Another bit of good has apparently come out of Harris’ sudden fame. He and his sister have reconnected after having lost touch more than 20 years ago. She lives in Texas and has reportedly offered him a place to stay with her, KTVN reported. Harris is considering the offer.

The post Ring’s return brings new life for Kansas City homeless man appeared first on juesatta (CJ Photography).

listening

It was last Sunday morning after my breakfast with parents. They were to drop me home after our meal and to go somewhere. I wondered where they were going. They said they were going to Pertubuhan Kebajikan Villa Harapan Melaka to meet up with the Buddhist society’s children from Merlimau.

The centre is a charity home in Duyung which accepts homeless, old folks, handicapped, and mentally disabled adults. I was quite busy with work for the past few months and didn’t have time to visit any of the centre like before. Since I was free that morning, I was in for the visit and I could take some photos.

It wasn’t the first time I came to this centre. But for most of the people especially the children, it was. When my parents and I arrived at the centre, the teachers and children had just arrived with a bus, and they were listening to the management’s briefing.

The centre is rather big and the residents sleep in a dormitory. Male and female are seperated. Currently the centre is taking care of 109 residents. Most of them are old folks and others are homeless, handicapped or mentally disabled. Although the centre is partially funded by Government, they still need public support to maintain the centre.

Then we were brought to visit the place by Thomas, the vice chairman of the centre. To spread the joy, the teachers talked and understand the residents’ needs and the children distributed their DIY greeting cards compassionately to the residents. It really made us sad to hear that some of the residents there were actually dumped by their family on the street or the centre, and couldn’t be borthered to visit them. Some shed tears when they told us their story. Anyway, I don’t think they hated their family, instead I felt they are missing them everyday and hoping one day their family would come to visit them or bring them home.

We could really see some of the faces lighted up when they looked at us, because they were bored and lonely. It took us 1 hour staying at the centre spending time with the residents there.

The visit was truly an unforgettable experience for us, and it didn’t end here. The organising committe decided to go to the Handicapped and Mentally Disabled Children Centre Melaka in Bukit Baru. I will upload some photos of our second visit soon.

Sharing some shots taken at the first centre we went. May all beings be happy.

The post Visiting the homeless at Pertubuhan Kebajikan Villa Harapan Melaka appeared first on juesatta (CJ Photography).