Cook finds family's treasure in the trash

MANCHESTER, N.H. -- Misplaced money nearly cancelled one family's Christmas, but there will be presents under the tree after a cook found the family's treasure in the trash.

A mother in Manchester, N.H. went to eat at a local diner after cashing her check at the bank. When she got home, she realized the important envelope was missing from her purse.

“It was in the trash and somebody dug for it,” said Karen Best of the lost envelope.

In that envelope was $210. Karen Best had just gotten paid and took her family for dinner at the Airport Diner last week. She paid the bill, but ended up leaving the envelope on the table.

“It was about 10 minutes of searching through my pocketbook and taking out stuff to throw away that I realized the money was gone,” said Best.

The table was cleared off and the envelope was tossed in the trash.

“It was all the money I had. Every penny to my name was in that envelope,” said Best.

The Best family, like many these days, are struggling to get by. Both parents are working and trying to take care of their oldest son, Sammie, who is severely autistic.

Some of that money was going to buy Christmas presents for the kids.

“I had just gotten to the point where I could stop crying and calm down when the phone rang. It was Nicky from the Airport Diner saying they had found the money! I was in a state of shock that I couldn’t even react,” said Best.

Cook Paul Soucy said he didn’t think twice and dove into three garbage bags.

“I was looking for the place mats, looking for coloring, looking for a white envelope and then the envelope was right there,” said Soucy of his unlikely find.

Best is extremely thankful that the money was recovered.

“I’m still overwhelmed by it, I really am. When I stop and think about how somebody would go that far for someone they’ve never met before, he’s a wonderful man,” said Best.

The Airport Diner has adopted the family for the holidays. They will be providing Christmas dinner for the family and are going to make sure there are plenty of gifts under the tree for the kids.

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