Two homeless women in northern California have returned a large amount of cash that belonged to a man whose van was destroyed in a fire.
The women were among four homeless people who sifted through the rubble near San Jose International Airport on Wednesday to save what they could for one of their neighbors, George. Fox San Francisco reported.
During the fire, the two men rescued two of George’s dogs and the women found an unspecified amount of thousands of dollars stashed in the vehicle.
“That night, before I got the money, he was saying that I have lost my money which I was saving to go home and meet my family. I haven’t seen my family in 10 years. He needs to see his family,” Gretchen Pace told the news outlet. “The money was what was left.”
A friend told the news station that George was hospitalized for an unrelated illness but was grateful for what his neighbors had done.
Kimberly Williams, who is also homeless, said she found another bundle of cash in a tin box among the rubble.
“It was burnt at the end but the middle was completely visible,” she said. “The serial number and everything was intact. I don’t know how much it was. I didn’t count it. I’m just excited about it.
Women search through the wreckage after a van caught fire near San Jose International Airport.
Neighbor George was saving money to visit family for the first time in 10 years.
Gretchen Pace said she turned down George’s offer of the reward.
Kimberly Williams found money saved in a tin can in the wreckage.
Both women said that they returned the money to George.
“I just gave it to him and he started crying and said oh my god why did you do that? I said it’s your money. It’s not mine,” Pace said. “He offered me money. I said no. Give me enough for a pack of cigarettes. He goes, I’ll take you out to dinner. I said coffee and a donut is enough for me.” .