The man who had discovered it walked away without the fortune.
But he carried something else with him: the knowledge that he had acted in a way he could feel good about.
Sources: WNEM's original report, January 16, 2020; UPI, January 17, 2020.
A Story That Captured People's Attention
News of Howard's decision soon traveled beyond the charity store.
Local television station WNEM reported the discovery and the return of the money.
The Associated Press covered the story, and other news organizations shared the remarkable details.
It was easy to understand why people were interested.
The story contained several elements that made it unusual.
A man bought used furniture for approximately $70.
He discovered more than $43,000 hidden inside.
He had financial problems that the money could have helped solve.
He was told by an attorney that he could legally retain the cash.
And he returned the entire amount anyway.
The contrast between what Howard stood to gain and what he chose to do became the central feature of the coverage.
This was not a wealthy philanthropist making a donation from a large fortune.
It was an ordinary homeowner who needed expensive repairs and had unexpectedly received what appeared to be a financial opportunity.
His circumstances made his decision more relatable.
People could imagine themselves facing the same dilemma.
Would they keep the money?
Would they try to locate its owner?
Would they feel differently if they were struggling financially?
Would their answer change if the amount were $100, $1,000, or more than $40,000?
The story encouraged readers to consider what honesty means when there is a genuine temptation to behave otherwise.
It also provided a welcome example of positive human behavior.
News coverage often focuses on conflict, dishonesty, financial wrongdoing, or people taking advantage of one another.
Howard's decision presented a different possibility.
He had discovered an opportunity to benefit at someone else's expense.
Instead, he voluntarily helped the people who had unknowingly lost something valuable.
The story was unusual enough to attract attention, but its moral significance was easy to recognize.
Howard had done something that many people hope they would do under similar circumstances.
He had put his principles ahead of immediate financial gain.
But the public response was about to make his experience even more remarkable.
The Roof That Still Needed Replacing
After returning the money, Howard's financial problems had not magically disappeared.
His house still needed a new roof.
The discovery of the hidden cash had briefly presented a possible way to pay for the work.
But once the money was returned, Howard was back where he had started.
He still owned the secondhand sofa and ottoman.
He still had the satisfaction of knowing he had helped Kim's family.
And he still had an expensive home repair he could not easily afford.
In some ways, that made the story even more meaningful.
Howard's decision had not come with a guarantee that someone would reward him.
He could not have known that businesses would hear about his honesty.
He could not have predicted that a contractor would volunteer to help him.
As far as the available reporting indicates, he did not return the cash as part of a plan to obtain assistance.
He simply believed it was the right thing to do.
That distinction matters.
Kindness performed in the expectation of a reward is different from kindness offered because someone believes it is morally necessary.
The roof was a real and practical need.
It affected Howard's living conditions and financial security.
But it had not been enough to convince him to keep money he believed belonged to someone else.
Once the story became public, however, members of the community began to see the situation from another perspective.
Here was a man who had given up enough money to solve his own housing problem.
He had returned it to a family who had not even known it was missing.
Surely, some people thought, there must be a way to help him.
And soon, there was.
When One Local Contractor Decided to Help
Among the people inspired by Howard's actions was Daryl LaClair, the owner of LaClair Home Restoration.
Daryl's involvement was particularly meaningful because he already knew about Howard's roofing problem.
According to a February 2, 2020, report in The Meridian Weekly, Howard had previously contacted Daryl to obtain a quote for a new roof.
In other words, the contractor did not simply hear that Howard needed help after the story appeared on television.
He was already aware that the roof needed replacement.
When Daryl learned that Howard had returned $43,170 despite his own financial circumstances, he decided to act.
He offered to replace the roof and donate the labor.
It was a significant commitment.
Roof replacement is physically demanding work requiring experience, equipment, planning, and attention to safety.
Depending on a roof's condition, contractors may need to remove old materials, inspect the underlying structure, install protective components, and complete the new roofing system.
The process often requires an entire crew.
Donating the labor therefore meant giving Howard something with substantial practical value.
But Daryl was not alone.
Eikenhout Building Supplies also became involved.
The company donated the materials needed for the roof replacement.
That solved another major part of the project's expense.
With labor and materials covered, the possibility of giving Howard a new roof became real.
It was a striking reversal.
Only a short time earlier, Howard had returned money that could have paid for the repairs.
Now, other people were voluntarily helping him address the same problem.
His honesty had inspired a response that directly affected his life.
And the generosity did not stop with the contractor and building supplier.
Source: The Meridian Weekly, February 2, 2020, page 2, “Rewarding Integrity... Kirby's Rewarded With New Roof.”
A Team of Strangers and Neighbors Comes Together
The roofing project required more than one person's goodwill.
Daryl LaClair organized the labor, and Eikenhout supplied the roofing materials.
Other workers joined the effort.
According to The Meridian Weekly, the crew included Rob Tomasek, Dave Holland, and Daryl's uncle Bill, who came out of retirement to help.
That detail is especially touching.
A retired worker returned to assist with a project inspired by another person's honesty.
The generosity extended beyond money and materials.
People were contributing their time, expertise, and physical effort.
Waste Management also participated by donating a dumpster for the roofing project.
That might sound like a small detail compared with the labor and building supplies, but removing old roofing materials is an essential part of many roof replacements.
Disposal services add cost to a construction project.
Providing a dumpster helped make the work easier and reduced another expense.
Each contribution addressed a different practical need.
One company provided supplies.
A contractor coordinated and donated labor.
Workers volunteered their efforts.
Another business assisted with waste disposal.
Together, they formed a team capable of completing a project Howard had previously struggled to afford.
The local newspaper reported that work was underway in late January 2020 and was expected to finish around the beginning of February.
For Howard, the transformation must have been extraordinary.