Jay Kersting's Blog

Ethical dilema…did I do the right thing?

This afternoon I went to Target on my lunch break to pick up a few items for home and at work.  It is snowing here in Jefferson City, but not terribly windy nor cold.  So I parked near the back of the parking lot.

Getting out of the car, I noticed a quarter.  Specifically, it was a South Dakota quarter..from 2006, I think.  No one was nearby and no cars were that close either.  So, I picked it up and looked around for other people as I walked in to Target.

I could have kept the quarter, but I didn’t.  But I didn’t give it back to its rightful owner.  I have no idea who that is and I never will.

Target does not allow Salvation Army bell-ringers at their stores.  What you MAY not know is that Target donates a percentage of their holiday receipts to the Salvation Army instead….and has since they stopped letting the bell-ringers hangout at their stores.  A win-win.

Anyhow, I drove to a Schnucks grocery store, because I will NOT go to Walmart, especially after hearing how they are SCREWING over people sending packages to the troops, to find a Red Kettle.  And I put the quarter in the Salvation Army Red Kettle, along with the rest of my pocket change.

Was this the ethical thing to do?

I am honestly not sure.  I do not think it is right for ANYONE to give away other people’s stuff.  But keeping something that is not mine does not sit well with me.

What do you think?