This is unfortunate, but the positive outcome that followed is a testament to the power of turning a negative situation into something good.
When a couple separates or is divorced and there are children, it is typical for the non-custodial partner to pay child support.
But just because something is widespread doesn’t mean everyone is happy with it, and sometimes that displeasure results in challenging circumstances like this one.
Virginia was the site of the incident.
Teenager Avery Sanford and her mother recently received a not-so-pleasant gift from her estranged father in Henrico, Virginia.
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The gesture was made to humiliate Avery’s mother, but the women made a good thing out of it.
Last income
Since Avery had recently turned 18, her father hadn’t spoken to her in years, so he was no longer legally obligated to pay child support.
But instead of paying like the average person, he decided to add a touch of dramatic flare.
The Attractive payment method
He decided to pay his last child support of 80,000 cents using his hard-earned time and money.
One Twitter user who heard the story said it would cost him more to get that many pennies, but it’s his prerogative to waste money if he chooses to.
He sent a caravan of pennies.
Now you may be wondering, “How does someone transport 80,000 pennies?”
Avery claims that after she rented an off-road trailer to transport pennies, her father dropped them off in their front yard for her mother to deal with.
At first, Avery’s mother couldn’t recognize what was happening
Avery’s father came to throw coins at their house while she was still in class.
When her mother didn’t recognize him at first and asked what he was doing, he replied, “It’s your last child support payment.”
“Avery’s mother didn’t realize what was going on at first”
Avery’s mother, Raven Sickal, asked the police to come to her house and deal with her ex-husband.
But since the man wasn’t officially charged, Sickal was left holding the bag of coins while her ex left.
When Avery got home, she noticed them.
When Avery came home from school that day, it was impossible to miss the tens of thousands of coins on her lawn.
Cleaning pennies was a task that Avery and her mother accepted.
Change in a positive situation
The mother-daughter team decided to donate funds to turn an intended trivial negative action into something beneficial.
The entire $800 was donated to Safe Harbour, a nearby domestic violence shelter.
It encouraged others to give as well
Others gave to the shelter when the story gained popularity online.
Thanks to Avery and Raven’s actions, Safe Harbor Shelter has received more than $40,000 in donations from around the world.
Relationships between fathers and their children can be tricky and sometimes it can be confusing who is at fault.
The incident that took place in Virginia was unfortunate, but the positive outcome that followed is a reminder of the power of turning a negative situation into something good. Avery and Raven’s decision to donate money to Safe Harbor not only helped others in need but also inspired others to do the same. In situations where relationships end, it is important to prioritize the welfare of the children and seek professional help if necessary.