A Saskatoon man is on a heartfelt mission to spread some early holiday cheer by reuniting a child with a lost treasure. Albert Chubak's simple act of kindness in a store parking lot has blossomed into a community-wide search, showcasing the spirit of the season.
A Surprising Discovery in the Parking Lot
This past weekend, Albert Chubak visited the Home Depot on Circle Drive East in Saskatoon's north end. After finishing a job out of town removing bees from a chimney, he decided it was a good time to stop by the store. As he walked across the parking lot, a square, brown object on the ground caught his eye.
"It almost looked like just a chunk of mud," Chubak recalled. Upon closer inspection, he saw the item was made of cloth. He picked it up, placed it in his shopping cart, and continued into the store. It was only later that he noticed a zipper and discovered it was a child's purse containing a few coins inside.
The Parent's Instinct Kicks In
As a parent himself, Chubak was immediately moved. He guessed that a child had brought the purse along, perhaps hoping to buy a small treat while running errands with a parent. Chubak said it would deeply bother him if one of his own children had lost something so special.
"It would just rip my heart out," he shared, explaining the empathy he felt for both the child and their family. This personal connection fueled his determination to find the purse's rightful owner.
A Community Rallies on Social Media
Knowing that lost items left at stores are often discarded after a certain period, Chubak turned to Facebook for help. He posted in the 'Saskatoon Lost and Found' group, providing details about his discovery. The response was overwhelming.
As of Monday afternoon, his post had been shared over 600 times and garnered around 1,400 responses. Chubak has been diligently reading and reacting to the flood of positive comments. The post has even been shared in other Facebook groups focused on communities outside Saskatoon, widening the search net.
Through some online sleuthing, Chubak believes the purse is part of a set that includes a bracelet, a small book, and a pen, typically gifted to children between the ages of four and twelve.
Adding a Touch of Holiday Magic
Chubak's generosity didn't stop at simply trying to return the bag. He has added some of his own money to the coins already inside, and other people, touched by his story, have also offered to make contributions.
He hopes that any money collected could help the child's family enjoy a special meal to mark the holiday season. "That's a good seasonal Christmas-type thing to do," he said.
In his post, Chubak has promised that if someone contacts him and can accurately describe the bag, he will personally deliver it to them. While he remains hopeful about finding the owner, he has also considered donating the purse and the collected funds to a family in need if the original owner cannot be located.
So far, there have been no firm leads, but the search continues, powered by one man's compassion and a community's willingness to help.
