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Stolen Donation Jars Can't Keep Good Samaritans From Donating At Local Restaurant

DELMONT (KDKA) -- For more than 80 years The Lamplighter Restaurant and the Ferri family have been dishing up good food - and goodwill in Delmont.

Recently, two donation jars near the cashier were there for two very special reasons. One, the Rotary Club's "Miracle Field," so that any child, no matter how challenged, can play ball.

The other was for Steve December, diagnosed with ALS two years ago. It's stealing his independence - and leaving the young couple with staggering medical bills. His wife is appropriately named Hope.

"He found out right before they were due to marry - and she said 'Yes, any amount of time I spend with you I'm grateful for,'" says restaurant owner, Lynne Ferri.

Not surprisingly, people stepped up filling the jars with cash and spare change. But then the Grinch got a jump on the season stealing the jars. They now have replacements - and had to start all over again.

"A shock, I couldn't believe it, I mean who does that?" Ferri said.

But after KDKA's first story about the theft aired, big hearts began reaching into their pockets again.

"The day after the piece aired, a couple came into the restaurant with $100 in cash and a beautiful letter to Hope and Steve. We have a patron who prefers to remain anonymous who has filled the jars, both jars at least eight times, that comes to about $90. And, today, right before you arrived, we had patrons who came in, one said they were just passing from Greensburg."

Another stopped, dividing his donations between the two jars.

"It's amazing," says Ferri. "But then, that's what our community is like."

And, it's what this season is truly about.

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