WAYNESVILLE, Ohio — A $100 tip turned into many raising thousands of dollars for a family in need.
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Two strangers destined to meet.
Kelly Schilling needed last-minute groceries before Christmas and Lisa Burnett delivered them to her door, our news partners at WCPO reported.
Schilling decided to offer an extra thank you.
“I went into the app and I added $100 to her tip,” Schilling said.
Burnett returned to Schilling’s home to tell her something may have gone wrong. But it wasn’t. Little did she know, the tip was all hers — a special gift from a stranger.
“She could’ve very easily taken the tip, and I never would’ve heard from her. And that would’ve been fine! It was for her,” Schilling said.
Their full interaction was caught on Schilling’s Ring camera, showing how two people became forever connected.
“Did they give you the money?” Schilling asked.
“Yes,” Burnett replied.
“It was for you!” Schilling said.
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Moved by Burnett’s kindness and concern, Schilling wanted to find a way to say thank you. She posted their interaction on TikTok and got thousands of views within hours.
“A couple of hours later, I had 5,000 people saying ‘Where is she?’” Schilling said.
So she began a mission to track down the woman who just arrived at her doorstep.
Schilling said she searched Google and White Pages to find the right Lisa Burnett. Eventually, she found her phone number and asked her to return to her house.
Burnett said she was originally worried that she had done something wrong by returning to a house she delivered to days before, but it was the opposite.
Schilling welcomed Burnett in and gave her more gifts — including a new jacket and $250 in gift cards.
She also told Burnett that more than 90,000 people had watched their video, and wanted to donate and help Burnett.
That unexpected blessing could not have come at a better time.
“I’m grieving really, really bad. I lost my daughter five years ago. And I’m raising her beautiful daughter,” said Burnett in the now-viral video.
Burnett explained to Schilling that morning that she had applied for Public Housing Assistance. Now, the pair created a GoFundMe for Burnett and her granddaughter.
As of Thursday, Dec. 26, people have donated more than $35,000 to help Burnett and her granddaughter find a home.
When we asked if this surprising moment changed her life, Burnett replied, “Ten-fold.”
“Lisa represents exactly why this story is viral and what people want more of in the world,” Schilling said.
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