Woman finds heartfelt letters tied to balloons, helps fund funeral costs
Goodbyes from a grieving family that lost its 42-year-old mother just days before Mother’s Day turned into unexpected help and funds for a funeral.
Three children from Moreno Valley, Calif., ages 16, 18 and 25, were unable to come up with the funds to hold a proper funeral for their mother, so they did something else instead — released balloons with heartfelt letters tied to them on Mother’s Day in hopes to say some last words to their mother in heaven, according to ABC News.
The balloons landed 35 miles away in Murrieta, Calif., the next day in the yard of a woman who knew she needed to try and help the family.
“I came into work with them and I said ‘I have to find this family,’ and my boss jumped on board,” Yvette Melton told ABC News. “These letters had nothing to do with them asking for help, it was just three kids’ thoughts to their mother. They had no intention of anyone finding it and they weren’t asking for anything.”
According to the Huffington Post, Melton’s colleagues jumped in to help and quickly raised $2,000.
“The balloons fell in my yard for a reason,” Melton told the Huffington Post. “I have generous friends, family and coworkers and I knew we could get it done.”
Melton then set up a GoFundMe page with the goal of raising $10,000, but it has exceeded $20,000 in just five days.
“I do not know how to thank each and everyone of you who have read the Finney family story and came to support them,” Melton wrote on the GoFundMe page on Sunday. “Collectively you will not only bury Ms. Finney, you will also help them achieve their goals through support for some time. You really are angels on earth.”
Contact Kira Terry at kterry@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kiraterry
