A homeless man in Kansas City, Missouri is facing a windfall of more than $100,000 for his kindness after he returned a diamond engagement ring to its rightful owner, which she had accidentally dropped into his donation cup.
Billy Ray Harris, who is homeless and often sleeps under a bridge, was shocked to find that a diamond ring had been dropped in his collection cup while begging last Friday.
'The ring was so big I knew if it was real it had to be expensive,' he told KCTV. Rather than pawn it, Harris had a hunch that the owner would return for it and so he stored it in a safe place.
The ring belonged to Sarah Darling, who was devastated the next day when she realized she had lost it.
'It was horrible. It was such a feeling of loss,' said Darling. 'It meant so much to me beyond just the financial value.'
Darling rarely takes the ring off, but that day had put it in her purse for safe keeping after she had developed a slight rash on her finger.
She went back to look for Harris on the Saturday, but couldn't find him. She tried again the next day and fortunately he was in the same spot.
'I asked him ... "I don't know if you remember me, but I think I gave you something that's very precious to me," and he says, "Was it a ring? Yeah, I have it, I kept it for you,'" said Darling.
She described finding the ring again as a miracle.
To show their appreciation, Darling and her husband set up an online fundraising page on giveforward.com for Harris.
So far more than 3,800 donations have been made, totaling over $100,000. The money will be given to Harris at the end of a 90-day campaign.