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91ƵI91Ƶd never held $4,000 before:91Ƶ Salmon Arm citizen doesn91Ƶt hesitate to find owner of $100 bills

Cash found on street by woman who typically works several jobs, lives on low income
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Ellen Zilkie at work, keeping the streets of Salmon Arm clean for everyone. One of her jobs is to clean up following the Farmers Market downtown. (Photo contributed)

91ƵHonest, hard-working,91Ƶ is how people who know and work with Ellen Zilkie describe her.

So when Zilkie came across more money than she91Ƶs ever seen in one place before, she didn91Ƶt hesitate. She knew what to do.

She picked up the cash and went about finding its rightful owner.

It was Friday, May 12, and Zilkie, who keeps city streets clean for Downtown Salmon Arm through the Shuswap Association for Community Living (SACL), was doing her regular route. She was heading down past Scotia Bank with her broom and dustpan when she spotted it. A bunch of $100 bills with an elastic band around them lying on the street.

She picked them up and headed back to the community living offices. She thought there was maybe $1,500 or $2,000 worth of bills.

When she arrived with her find, 91ƵI91Ƶd never seen so many heads poking out of offices,91Ƶ she laughed, adding they told her to count it. She did, and was shocked by the number. Four thousand dollars.

91ƵI91Ƶd never held $4,000 before.91Ƶ

Although some people told her she should keep it, and she knew her mom, who91Ƶs 87, could use it, she didn91Ƶt consider that.

91ƵI91Ƶm honest. I was raised with good morals,91Ƶ she emphasized.

She and a SACL staff member went out to see if they could find the owner.

They decided to start with Scotia Bank, as it was the closest financial institution to the spot the cash was found.

There they learned a man had come in just 10 minutes earlier, asking about the money. He had thought it was in the breast pocket of his shirt.

They left the money with a bank employee, who also counted it and was able to return it to the customer. The man wasn91Ƶt told Zilkie91Ƶs name and Zilkie wasn91Ƶt told his. But he left a card for her addressed to 91Ƶfinder91Ƶ with a bird on it, thanking her, as well as a small reward, she said.

At Downtown Salmon Arm, manager Jennifer Broadwell praised Zilkie and her work for the business association.

91ƵShe is really invested in our little community and is a good Samaritan.91Ƶ

Zilkie also worked for the Observer for about 16 years with her mother, dropping off bundles of newspapers, picking up extra routes. She said she is currently searching for a place to live, preferably near downtown in the vicinity of 7th or 8th Street SE so she can walk to visit her mother and vice versa. She91Ƶs hoping someone knows of a place.

Joanne Reitan is services manager with SACL. Like Broadwell, she also spoke highly of Zilkie.

91ƵEllen has been involved with SACL since at least 2010. She is such a hard worker, she has always worked three or four jobs and has looked after her mother. She91Ƶs just a real stand-up person.91Ƶ

Reitan said Zilkie started the street cleaning a couple of years ago and has been very dedicated.

91ƵI happened to walk into the office when she was counting the money.

91ƵWe were sort of teasing Ellen, saying that91Ƶs enough to go on a bus trip. She didn91Ƶt consider it. She said somebody is missing that money and they needed it back.91Ƶ

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martha.wickett@saobserver.net
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Martha Wickett

About the Author: Martha Wickett

came to Salmon Arm in May of 2004 to work at the Observer. I was looking for a change from the hustle and bustle of the Lower Mainland, where I had spent more than a decade working in community newspapers.
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