A family in Richmond, Virginia was floored last month when they witnessed 80,000 pennies being dumped on their front lawn.
“I just turned 18. When I was in the middle of class, my dad came by. He had rented a trailer,” Avery Sanford, a Deep Run High School senior, said.
“He pulled up in front of the house and turned the trailer on so it dumped out all the pennies on the grass and my mom came out and was like, ‘What are you dumping in my yard?’ She didn’t know who it was until he shouted, ‘It’s your final child support payment.”
The incident left an impression on the teen.
“It’s not just my mom he’s trying to embarrass, it’s also me and my sister and it’s upsetting that he didn’t consider that before he did that,” Sanford said.
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After the pennies were picked up, Sanford and her mom decided donate every cent to Safe Harbor, a domestic abuse center. The center supports “those who are experiencing or have experienced domestic violence, sexual violence, or human trafficking.”
“Turning around and donating that money to moms and children in need, I feel like that really turns this situation into a positive. You can learn from it,” Avery said. Avery hasn’t spoken to her father in years.
She admitted how the penny incident proved that her estrangement was the right choice. She continued, saying how she has no interest in having a relationship with anyone who disrespected her mother.
“It’s really hurtful and damaging to your kids when you do things like that. It doesn’t matter if they’re young or an adult, the actions of your parents will always have some effect on you,” Avery said. Avery’s mother said she reported the incident to Henrico Police.
When reached by phone Tuesday, Avery’s father said his actions were charged with 18 years of built-up frustration and his emotions got the best of him. He said the very last thing he intended to do was to hurt his daughter.
Hopefully, in the future, Avery’s father will be more kind, tactful and gracious. After all, she must have gotten it from somewhere!