NLetter to the Editor: It Took a Village—The case of the lost wallet

Monday, October 17, 2011
by Melanie Gerber

On Saturday my husband Jim and I were at the Chappaqua Farmers Market. After buying the last corn of the season from a nice woman selling organic produce, my husband spotted a long, red wallet on the ground. What to do?

After we looked inside and found the wallet owner’s photo I.D., we started looking around to see if we could identify the owner. Next, we asked TJay, the singer-guitarist (and, apparently, part-comedian) at the market that day, to make an announcement on the microphone.

“Attention please: Will Jane Welch please come to the music stand, we found your wallet.” 

No answer.

“Does anyone know Jane Welch? We found her wallet.” 

No answer. 

“Please let Jane know that we are raffling off her wallet!” 

Laughter, but still no answer. 

One of the market organizers came over and asked if she could help. She called a friend who looked up Jane’s name in the phone book. If she didn’t answer or we didn’t find the home number, Jim wanted to drive to her home (since we had her address) and deliver the wallet personally.  We wrote down our address and phone number to leave with Stephanie, the market’s director, in case Jane returned while we were on our way to her house.  Fortunately, though, Jane answered the phone. She had just gotten home and just then realized, too, that she must have dropped her wallet someplace at the market.  She immediately drove back to town to meet us. 

Jim waited for Jane and when they met, Jim asked Jane to identify herself by providing her home address and date of birth.  Assured that Jane was herself, the wallet was returned to its rightful owner. 

Thanks to JT, the market organizer, her friend who found the owner’s phone number, and Jim’s persistence, she got it back. Yes, it takes a village. And we are one.

Melanie Gerber
Chappaqua, NY