It’s nothing short of a modern-day miracle,when envelopes stuffed with cash just keep appearing all over town. And not just small cash, we’re talking large amounts. Since late last year, envelopes containing sums up to 10,000 euros are being mysteriously ‘given’ to those who are in need of money, in the German town of Braunschweig. The donated money that’s been accounted for so far amounts to a whopping 200,000 euros.
While the benefactor is unknown, the beneficiaries have so far “suspected” a hospice, a robbery victim, various charities, and also the family of a handicapped boy. The cash-stuffed envelopes have been left in prayer books in churches, beneath doormats and also in letterboxes. There are several theories as to who is behind this sudden ‘shower’ of cash in the settlement. Some say that it could be a lottery winner and others feel it’s probably someone who’s received a large inheritance. Whoever it may be, the person is being hailed as a present-day reincarnation of Robin Hood, who we’re not yet sure if is stealing from the rich, but is certainly giving to the needy.
The cash donations are accompanied by clippings from the local newspaper, the Braunschweig Zeitung, carrying a story that the paper covered about the people in need. The first envelope contained twenty 500 euro notes and was left for a crime victim, after the newspaper posted an article about her. When the paper reported the story of 14-year-old Tom, who was left seriously injured after a swimming accident, a bundle of notes was left in his name at the newspaper’s office. As wonderful as the story sounds, I’m incredibly curious to know about the person behind all the envelopes.
For now, the people of Braunschweig are happy, barring the Finanzamat, the local tax office. Understandably, the officials aren’t particularly enthusiastic about all the tax they are getting cheated out off. For the rest of the city however, it certainly does seem to be a blessing in disguise.