Sergio returned a lost check to Yesenia, who repaid the favor by raising $20,000 for his family!

Yesenia Del Valle is a mom of three who had misplaced her tax payment. Sergio Juarez is a dad who’d lost his job and home. Together they would discover that people—even total strangers—are incredibly kind

Rushing out of the tax preparer’s office, Yesenia Del Valle climbed into her car and signed her paperwork, ready to slip the money orders she’d just bought into the envelope so that she could mail in her return.

Suddenly, her breath caught: She’d purchased two money orders, one for her state taxes and one for the IRS. So why was there only one here?

Frantically, she began tearing the car apart. She retraced her steps from the parking lot back to the tax office, but the money order wasn’t there.

The taxes were already due. There was no time to get a refund on the money order. So Yesenia and her husband, Octavio, would now have to lay out another $676.

How will we manage that? the San Diego realtor worried.

The kindness of strangers We’ll

“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world, for indeed, that’s have.” all who ever MARGARET MEAD

figure it out,” Octavio, a teacher, reassured her.

But Yesenia was upset. As she made dinner, the numbers kept running through her head. There were so many things they’d hoped to do with that money!

Just then, there was a knock at the door. “Are you Yesenia?” a stranger asked.

Sergio Juarez had been walking to his minivan near the tax preparer’s office when he’d noticed a slip of paper under his tire. And when he picked it up, his wife, Gladys, gasped, “That’s a money order for taxes!”

Sergio noted the name and address, and realizing Yesenia must be worried, he headed to her house. “I think I found your check,” he said.

“Thank you!” Yesenia cried in relief and delight. And she told Sergio, “Don’t leave. Let me give you something!”

“That’s not necessary,” Sergio shook his head.

Still, Yesenia grabbed her purse. All she had was a $20 bill. Octavio had a $20 as well. “I know it’s not very much, but maybe you and your wife can grab dinner.” Sergio smiled. “Thank you so much. I’ll use this money to buy gas. It really will help.” At that, something inside Yesenia shifted. “Excuse me for asking, but . . . are you in a difficult situation?”

Nodding almost imperceptibly, Sergio replied, “Actually, at the moment, my family is homeless. We’re staying at the Motel 6.”

After 22 years, his wife had been laid off from her job at a law fi rm. Not long after, he’d lost his job as a school custodian. They’d cashed in their 401ks and used the little savings they had to pay bills while they looked for new jobs. But after a while, they couldn’t afford the house they’d rented, and now, they and their kids JJ, Karina and Jose, were living in the motel.

That night, Yesenia couldn’t sleep, thinking about Sergio. These were hardworking people. Honest people. What had happened to them could happen to anyone! So the next day, to repay her gratitude, Yesenia started a Go Fund Me campaign (Gofund Me. com/ 8ydpw-we- rise- by- lift ing- others.)

There are still a lot of good people in the world, and Sergio is a living example. Let’s help him get on his feet again!

“This is just the beginning!” Donations

poured in—not only cash, but gift cards for groceries and restaurants, too. And when Yesenia visited Sergio and Gladys at the motel and shared the news, they were now the ones overwhelmed with gratitude.

“You are like the answer to our prayers!” they cried.

Yesenia smiled. “You did the right thing and helped me fi rst!”

Within just two weeks, Yesenia raised more than $20,000, enough for fi rst and last month’s rent on a three-bedroom townhome and to cover several bills!

I want to thank Yesenia and every single person for their generosity, encouraging words and prayers, even if “thank you” is so small for the gratitude in my heart! Gladys posted on the Gofundme page recently. And today, she has a new job as a clerk at social services, and Sergio is up for a position as maintenance supervisor!

“This is just the beginning,” says Yesenia, who has started a nonprofit to help others in need called Rise and Shine San Diego.

“If anyone’s going through a hard time, I want them to know they should never give up. You never know when a miracle will happen!” Gladys says.

“I have come to realize that money and things don’t defi ne who you are. It’s what’s inside,” adds Sergio. “And Yesenia is right: There really are a lot of good people in the world!”