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This Chesterfield family lost $700, but what happened next is a Christmas miracle

Posted at 8:21 PM, Dec 16, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-16 20:21:51-05

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. -- Losing $700 isn't usually how your faith in humanity is restored.

On Monday the Talley family's Christmas Money and December expense money were lost.

The money was in a bank envelope, all "701-dollar bills" according to Anne Talley.

Anne and her husband think the envelope dropped in the parking lot of a home improvement store in Prince George County.

After searching the parking lot and talking with the stores management, the couple left empty-handed and heavy-hearted.

The Talley's are raising their 11 and 8-year-old grandchildren and have a 19 year old at home.

Anne knew Christmas presents would be out of the question without the lost cash being found.

So Anne took to social media, posting on Facebook details about what happened and calling on her friends to let her know if they heard anything about the money being found.

Words of encouragement poured in, which helped, but wouldn’t replace gifts and pay bills.

Miles away, a restless Diann Pearson couldn’t sleep, so at three in the morning, as she scrolled through Facebook, she stumbled on Anne's post.

Anne’s story touched her and she reaches out, to a complete stranger.

"I know you're going to think I'm crazy and you don't even know me but I want you to know that I have a Village of Friends and we're going to make you have a Christmas," Diann told Anne in a private message.

Anne responded by telling her thank you, and told Diann not to go to any trouble.

Diann quickly sets up a Go Fund Me page and within hours, more than half the 700 dollars is raised; a few hours more and everyone helped surpass the goal.

"I just hope she has an amazing Christmas," says Diann.

Anne said faith in humanity has been restored and added that Diann “is one of God's Angels that was sent to me and I'm just very blessed.”

But the story doesn't end here.  Anne doesn't want the extra money.

So she is paying it forward, and will give Diann back any extra money that's been raised.

Diann said she already knows several people in need of help this Christmas season and the money will go to them.