They say one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure. No one is more familiar with that idea than Sean Currey. The 57-year-old has been homeless for five-years on and off, and has come to depend on the many dumpsters he searches every day in San Rafael, California. However, when he came across a small floral pouch, his luck suddenly changed. (1)

80-Year-Old Grandma’s Wallet

The pouch in question belongs to Evelyn Topper, an 80-year-old woman living six miles away from where Sean found it. It contained her credit cards, as well as a business card with her address. An honest citizen, Sean called the number on the card to report he found it.  (1)

“I would want someone to do the same thing for me if I lost my wallet,” he says. “I knew this woman was probably beside herself not knowing where all her stuff was.” (1)

Evelyn had lost the pouch weeks before when she purchased a decaf chai latte for herself and a bubble tea for her granddaughter at a local coffee shop. She forgot to zip up her vest pocket, so the pouch fell out. She discovered it missing when she got to her Mill Valley home. (1)

Coffee Shop Can’t Find Wallet

“I called the coffee shop immediately,” says Evelyn. Unfortunately the staff didn’t find it. “I tore apart my car and my house. I knew it must have dropped somewhere in the parking lot.” Just when she felt she had lost her cards forever, Sean called. (1)

Unknown Caller

“Is this Evelyn Topper?” he asked. He told Evelyn he found her wallet and wanted to return it. (1)

“I started screaming. I couldn’t believe it,” says Evelyn. She drove to meet Sean who handed over the wallet. Evelyn gave him a bit of money for his honesty. (1)

“In all of this flurry of conversation with Sean, I tried to explain to him what a mitzvah is,” says Evelyn who was celebrating the first day of Hanukkah. “I said, ‘You don’t know what this means to me to get this.’ Yes, it’s a physical thing, but it’s the act itself.” (1)

Returned Her Grandma’s Lost Wallet

When her granddaughter, Mikayla Gounard heard the good news, she came up with an idea. She decided for her 12th birthday she would raise money for Sean instead of asking for gifts. Her initial thought was to give the money to a charity, but instead decided to raise money for Sean. (1)

Along with her mother, Vanessa Topper, they called Sean to share their idea. “I choked up and got a tear,” says Sean. “I felt very humbled and special that they would go out of their way to do that for me.” (1)

Birthday Money And GoFundMe

On Mikayla’s birthday, she had a drive-through party where she collected money for Sean. “We raised $475 for him, and people are still calling and writing to us, wanting to see how else they can help,” says her mom who also created a GoFundMe page for Sean to help him through the pandemic. (1)

Mikayla and Vanessa delivered the money to Sean together. “I got to see him smile, and it made me really happy,” says Mikayla. (1)

Living In Car

Sean has lived in his car for the good part of five-years, following a four-month stay in temporary government housing he secured after he was released from the hospital for pneumonia. “I’m working as much as I can with the pandemic, doing handyman stuff where I can. But it’s hard without having a home base,” says Sean. “Not having shelter is not a good feeling at all.” (1)

Doing The Right Thing

Sean admits for a fleeting moment his dire straights had him considering using those credit cards. “I can’t say I didn’t think about it, but only for a second. Anybody in the position of being homeless and cold and tired and hungry, if they found a credit card, they’re going to think about it,” he says. “But whether you’re going to act on it is two different things. I would rather be cold and hungry and know that I did the right thing.” (1)

Paying It Forward

Sean is grateful his actions inspired Mikayla to do a good deed. “I was just so touched. It was refreshing, knowing that people her age want to help,” he says. “I believe I have a good heart. Maybe, if I keep doing the right thing, more people will too, and it will change the world, in a small way, for the better.” (1)