“Find the cash, keep the cash.”
That’s the only slogan. There’s no schedule either. Not really. Consecutive days. Every other. No one knows when and where, and it’s not likely anyone will soon or later because the person behind the generous gestures prefers anonymity.
Bethany. Maynard. Wellsburg. Harrisville. Costonia. Wheeling. Rayland. Mingo Junction. Moundsville. Morristown. And many more. Even a local TV reporter got involved a couple of weeks ago because, after all, who doesn’t adore news reports about free money?
Everyone loves free money, right?
Well, it’s one of several reasons why social media members have referred to the cash hunts as “fun” and “amazing” and “blessed” and as a “great thing (for the) community.” There are also others who complain about the chosen areas and hiding places, but that hasn’t stopped more than 40,000 Facebook fans to follow the very popular Timeline.
The amount that’s hidden varies from hunt to hunt, and the anonymous individual welcomes donations and even has a Venmo address listed on the Facebook page – @findthecashohiovalley.
“Yes, I get donations sometimes; not often but that’s OK,” they said. “I don’t really ask, but people are more than welcome to donate.”
They added: “Any amount helps, big or small.”
The questions are those being asked by local folks most often, and the answers are brief, but telling.
What prompted you to begin the page and to start giving away money?
I was on vacation in Florida and saw some video of people doing it there and thought this would be a hit in the Ohio Valley, so I made the page and started doing it myself.
How much money do you usually hide? How long do you plan to do these cash giveaways?
I usually put out between $40-$80 and I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon, so as long as I can do it, I will do it.
How do you select the hiding places for the cash drops, and do you have boundaries?
Some places I pick are places that I’ve been to or hung out in my teens, (and) other places are just places I’ve seen or driven by while out driving around. It’s pretty much random sometimes.
For now, I go in a 50-60 miles radius of St. Clairsville, but will expand it in the future.
What kind of reactions have you received from those who have found the small envelopes you’ve left behind?
Some people are just excited to find it and be a winner on the page but for some people they told me it was gas money for the week or to get them by till payday.
What do you get out of this?
I get the satisfaction of bringing a little bit of joy, happiness, and positivity to people in the Ohio Valley.
