In these unprecedented times, it’s refreshing to know acts of benevolence still exist.

Such has been the case in Palmerton, where several good Samaritans have recently come forward to return lost items to their rightful owners.

It was a regular weekday afternoon last week and Donald Gouger was on his way home after he bought takeout food from Tony’s Pizza in Palmerton.

About halfway to his Lower Towamensing Township home, Gouger said panic struck upon the realization he couldn’t find his wallet.

“My wallet fell out of my shorts,” Gouger said. “My pockets weren’t deep enough.”

Then it dawned on him that he lost his wallet while paying for food at the outdoor window as part of his takeout order.

At that point, Gouger’s cellphone rang. A woman told him she found his wallet and he should return to town to pick it up.

“She said she found my wallet,” he said. “It’s a big hassle; it had my license, debit card, Social Security card.”

Beth Rehrig and her daughter, April, had the wallet in safe keeping for him.

The co-owners of Off The Charts Music School on Delaware Avenue in Palmerton were able to track Gouger down.

“I was walking up the street and saw it laying at Tony’s parking lot,” Beth Rehrig said. “I thought, ‘I just can’t leave it here,’ “I thought “I have to pick this up and find the owner.”

Beth brought the wallet back to her store. They opened up the wallet and were able to find Gouger’s name as part of their online search on anywho.com.

April Rehrig said she was more than happy to assist her mother to ensure the wallet was returned to its rightful owner.

“It made me feel good,” April said. “I wouldn’t want to lose my wallet.”

Gouger was extremely grateful.

“The cash wouldn’t have mattered, you can replace cash,” he said.

Gouger said he took something away from the experience.

“I learned my lesson,” he said. “I wear pants with deep pockets.”

Beth said Gouger expressed his gratitude to the Rehrigs after he gifted them $20.

Lost cash returned

A Palmerton woman posted on social media that she was with her daughter at a borough playground in the afternoon after school and she lost cash.

Fortunately, a lady called the borough office and in turn, they had her call the borough police station to turn in the money.

That act of kindness prompted a response from part-time office staff employee Christal Benninger.

“I am so glad it worked out,” Benninger said. “The lady who called was very nice and honest; that’s hard to find these days.”

Borough police Chief Randy Smith said the police department was glad to lend a helping hand.

“The woman (who found the money) was here when the money was returned,” Smith said.

Phone returned

Yet another instance of kindness occurred recently in the borough.

Jennifer Merkel said her mother lost her phone while taking a recent walk through the borough park.

But that proved to be only temporary, as Merkel confirmed the phone was returned to her mother.

“Thanks all, officer (Brian) White received it and contacted us,” Merkel said. “Thank you to whomever dropped it off at the police station.”

Smith said the phone was left outside the office after it was found.

“There are some trustworthy people in the world,” he said.