Greenfield Recorder Linkage
This is in my backyard (Greenfield and Turners Falls border, I've lived in both) but I think everyone can see the goodness that remains in humanity. When I read the initial story I actually shed a tear and wanted to help her out if I had some additional money.
TURNERS FALLS -- It's unlikely people in this town will be getting any coal in their stockings this Christmas.
On Wednesday, the day after Mary Olive Corbiere, 83, lost almost $1,100 in cash after a truck accidentally snagged her shopping cart and her purse and the money blew into the wind and was snatched up by passersby, the community stepped up and donated at least $1,700 to replace the money Corbiere planned to spend on Christmas presents and everyday bills.
One Hallmark Institute of Photography student, who said he wanted to remain anonymous, wrote a check for $1,100.
'I was very upset by what I read. I felt I had to do something personally. I am not looking for notoriety. I wanted the woman to have a nice holiday.'
Other donations came from people who stopped by the police station and the Avenue A Cafe, which set out a can to collect donations.
On Wednesday, Corbiere, a retired Greenfield High School English teacher and retired registered nurse, said that she's a little taken aback by all the attention.
'My reaction is, 'good heavens!' there's an awful lot of nice people. I am amazed at how generous people were.
'It's more than they need to be.
'I'm not destitute. I could have probably managed.'
She said she'll donate any extra money she gets to a charity. And she's told Montague police if they get any more donations for her, it should go a charity of their choice.
'I was also impressed with the kindness and efficiency of our police department,' Corbiere said, adding that she wishes she could find the names of the women who helped recover her cane so she can thank them, too.
On Tuesday, shortly before 3 p.m., Corbiere was putting bags in her car at the Rite Aid plaza on Avenue A. Her purse and cane were still in the shopping car and as she turned to get a bag out of the car, a gust of wind turned the cart and hooked it to the wheel of a passing truck.
The cane flew out of the cart as the truck was driving out of the parking lot, but the cart, with her purse inside, continued along Avenue A, attached to the truck.
When the truck reached the Gill-Montague Bridge, the purse burst apart, scattering the contents, including $1,100 in cash. Some passersby apparently grabbed some of the money as it flew around in the air.
Police put out a call for people to return the money, no questions asked. Instead, people donated money to help Corbiere.
'I think it's a terrible thing to have happen, especially at this time of the year,' said Avenue A Caf￩ owner Evelyn Daly as she counted the donated cash the cafe collected, which amounted to $75. 'That's somebody's grandmother.'
Someone, who apparently didn't have any cash handy, put a $5 scratch ticket in the can.
'I just felt for her and it was something I could do. I can't always help,' Daly said.
The police station got calls and visits all day from people looking to donate, said Marsha Odle, dispatcher supervisor.
'People were feeling bad, especially with the holidays coming up.'
Sgt. Charles Dodge and Officer Jim Ruddock delivered the money on Wednesday afternoon.
'She was very happy,' Dodge said.
'It's a wonderful Christmas story. It just shows there's still a lot of good in this world. We knew we worked for a wonderful community, but this just proves it.'
On Wednesday, the day after Mary Olive Corbiere, 83, lost almost $1,100 in cash after a truck accidentally snagged her shopping cart and her purse and the money blew into the wind and was snatched up by passersby, the community stepped up and donated at least $1,700 to replace the money Corbiere planned to spend on Christmas presents and everyday bills.
One Hallmark Institute of Photography student, who said he wanted to remain anonymous, wrote a check for $1,100.
'I was very upset by what I read. I felt I had to do something personally. I am not looking for notoriety. I wanted the woman to have a nice holiday.'
Other donations came from people who stopped by the police station and the Avenue A Cafe, which set out a can to collect donations.
On Wednesday, Corbiere, a retired Greenfield High School English teacher and retired registered nurse, said that she's a little taken aback by all the attention.
'My reaction is, 'good heavens!' there's an awful lot of nice people. I am amazed at how generous people were.
'It's more than they need to be.
'I'm not destitute. I could have probably managed.'
She said she'll donate any extra money she gets to a charity. And she's told Montague police if they get any more donations for her, it should go a charity of their choice.
'I was also impressed with the kindness and efficiency of our police department,' Corbiere said, adding that she wishes she could find the names of the women who helped recover her cane so she can thank them, too.
On Tuesday, shortly before 3 p.m., Corbiere was putting bags in her car at the Rite Aid plaza on Avenue A. Her purse and cane were still in the shopping car and as she turned to get a bag out of the car, a gust of wind turned the cart and hooked it to the wheel of a passing truck.
The cane flew out of the cart as the truck was driving out of the parking lot, but the cart, with her purse inside, continued along Avenue A, attached to the truck.
When the truck reached the Gill-Montague Bridge, the purse burst apart, scattering the contents, including $1,100 in cash. Some passersby apparently grabbed some of the money as it flew around in the air.
Police put out a call for people to return the money, no questions asked. Instead, people donated money to help Corbiere.
'I think it's a terrible thing to have happen, especially at this time of the year,' said Avenue A Caf￩ owner Evelyn Daly as she counted the donated cash the cafe collected, which amounted to $75. 'That's somebody's grandmother.'
Someone, who apparently didn't have any cash handy, put a $5 scratch ticket in the can.
'I just felt for her and it was something I could do. I can't always help,' Daly said.
The police station got calls and visits all day from people looking to donate, said Marsha Odle, dispatcher supervisor.
'People were feeling bad, especially with the holidays coming up.'
Sgt. Charles Dodge and Officer Jim Ruddock delivered the money on Wednesday afternoon.
'She was very happy,' Dodge said.
'It's a wonderful Christmas story. It just shows there's still a lot of good in this world. We knew we worked for a wonderful community, but this just proves it.'
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