JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An Action News Jax viewer stepped up to give hope to a local great-grandmother who said her stimulus money from the City of Jacksonville was stolen.
The money from the anonymous donor helped the 74-year-old stay in her home.
JoAnne Pinkney told Action News Jax she’s just trying to make it through 2020.
“Its been rough, just unbelievable,” she described.
Wednesday, Pinkney opened up to Action News Jax reporter Christy Turner about her struggles.
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The great-grandmother thought her luck was changing when the City of Jacksonville approved her request for a $300 stimulus card.
“I didn’t think I was going to get it anyways, so, when I got it, I was excited," Pinkney said. “I saved it to pay my mortgage.”
She said when she received the card it only had 10 cents in funds.
In an email, the treasurer for the City of Jacksonville said it, “appears someone likely gained access to her card without her knowledge and stole funds.”
“Who would do that?,” Pinkney said. She added, “They’re awful, they’re awful to do that.”
An Action News Jax viewer saw her story and reached out to anonymously replace her funds, and then some.
She was ecstatic when she opened the envelope of cash, and said the $480 will go a long way to help cover her and her family’s expenses.
“It gives me hope for Jacksonville,” Pinkney said.
She had this message for her anonymous hero: “Thank you very much, and may God bless you. God will bless you. At 74 years old, I know what God will do for you – look at what He did for me.”