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Good Samaritans replace money raised by kids, stolen from Newport News church

Posted at 6:21 PM, Dec 18, 2013
and last updated 2013-12-18 18:21:08-05

Newport News, Va. - For more than a year, kids at Macedonia Baptist Church have carefully set aside money, dropping off what they could into a jar every week during Sunday service.

It was supposed to be their Christmas gift to the church.

Their savings eventually added up to about $700. But about a week ago, everything was taken.

"I have been really down as a result of just the idea of someone having come into the church, not just taking the money, but taking the money from the kids," says Arthur Price, Chairman of the Board of Deacons.

After hearing the story on NewsChannel 3, a Gloucester couple decided to take action in a big way.

Dwight and Penny Parker replaced the full amount that was stolen from the kids.

"It's something about children. They had saved all year getting that money and then it was gone, so I just thought it was the right thing to give it back to them," said Dwight.

NewsChannel 3 presented Dwight and Penny with a People Taking Action award and $100 gift card from our community partners at Southern Bank.

The good will didn't end with the Parkers either. The church had another unexpected angel drop by on Wednesday afternoon in the form of Valeria Cline from Virginia Beach.

"It really broke my heart. It brought tears to my eyes and I told my husband, I feel that God is telling me just to take all this change I have in my piggy bank and just take it to these kids," she said.

Along with the coins to start filling the jug again, she also brought by a check.

"To have these angels walk in here has just been something that has uplifted my spirits and I'll never forget it," Price says.

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