Elderly Man Rings Stranger’s Doorbell and Gives Her an Envelope - What She Finds Inside Causes Her to Break Down

*Featured image contains photo by cottonbro studio

Random acts of kindness are everywhere, we just have to look for them. Often, they can be as small as letting somebody get in front of you in line, or they can include helping somebody raise enough money to retire.

Other times, a random act of kindness is something a little bit strange -- like handing a stranger an envelope full of cash. This was recently the case for a cancer patient named Karen, who arrived home to a life-changing surprise. 

What One Elderly Man Brought For a Stranger

On a crisp autumn day, a stranger rang an anonymous woman’s doorbell, waking her up. She looked through the peephole and saw an elderly man whom she didn’t recognize on the other side of the door. At first, she thought it was a salesman who might go away. When he didn’t, she decided to answer and see what he wanted.

The elderly man asked if a woman named Karen lived at the address and if she was home. The anonymous woman answered that the Karen in question was her mother, but that she wasn’t home at the moment.

The man at the door smiled a mischievous smile, handed an envelope over, then turned on his heel and walked away. 

RELATED: Georgia Tech Security Guard Bursts Into Tears Over Student’s Meaningful Holiday Gift

The woman accepted the envelope and looked inside. When she saw its contents, she crumbled to the ground. She then pulled herself together and ran out of the apartment to chase the man down, but it was too late -- the stranger was gone. 

Inside the envelope was $1000 in cash and a letter explaining where the money was from. 

"Please accept this gift as an act of random kindness. A cherished member of our family devoted much of her time and resources to helping people through ‘Random Acts Of Kindness.' She gave to others in many ways, and always did so anonymously. One way our family has chosen to honor her memory is to continue in the tradition of helping others in the community with acts of random kindness.

What One Woman Found in the Mystery Envelope

"A ‘Random Act Of Kindness’ does not have to involve the giving of money. It can be as simple as sharing your time with someone, lending an ear, or offering a compliment. The most important part is that the act is unsolicited and done with no expectation of anything in return.

Although we do not know you personally, other members of our community identified you as a deserving recipient of this gift. Please use this money in any way you see fit, whether to alleviate some financial strain or to provide you the opportunity to do something special for yourself.

RELATED: Customer Changes Waitress’ Life With One Question — Her Response Leaves Others in Tears

We ask for nothing in return, but hope that you are encouraged to consider ways in which you can make a difference for someone else, and motivated to embrace the idea, and to carry on the tradition."

It turns out that Karen had been battling cancer for three years and was burnt out emotionally and physically. The illness left her financially strained and this amount of money would really help her. It was an amazing gift from her community. 

We truly never know what someone is going through and how much a random act of kindness might help turn their life around.

Sure, $1000 won’t necessarily buy you a new house or pay for college, but it can go a very long way in changing someone’s luck and setting them on a better path.

KEEP READING:

Grandma Finds Newly Adopted Grandson in Car – She Is Left In Tears