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Editor’s note: Last month, Winlock area resident Spencer Hoven shared her story with The Chronicle’s Facebook followers about a beloved rocking horse that had been mistakenly donated to a thrift store. Spencer has provided the following update:
The update you've all been waiting for. If you've been following this story, for the last 45 years this rocking horse has been cherished by all the children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren in our family. It was donated to Goodwill Industries International by mistake by the last family members to have possession of it.
When I became aware of this, I jumped in, going to Goodwill to look for it and posting all over to local groups on Facebook and on our local newspaper Facebook page trying to track it down. I was prepared to buy it back knowing it was more than likely bought as a gift for another child, and I wanted to be able to at least make sure whoever bought it had money to replace the horse for said child. I have been getting messages from all over by people even in other states trying to help me track it down, sending me listings of the exact same horse on eBay or Facebook marketplace. As tempted as I was to replace it, I wanted to give it time. Someone who saw one of my posts was kind enough to put a flyer up at our Centralia Goodwill as I hadn't had the chance to get back into town to do it. I was so appreciative of everyone trying to help us find this horse.
It has been a couple weeks now and, to be honest, I had kind of given up. We had hoped that whoever bought the horse would cherish it as much as we did and the lucky kid that got is as a gift would love it as well and had no hard feelings about it. Sometimes these things just happen.
Tonight, I received a message request from who I now know is the store manager at Centralia Goodwill. I don't know if she wants her name published, so I won't put her name on here, but she said, "Hi there! You are not going to believe it … the customer returned the radio flyer rocking horse! My team is holding it in the office for you to pick up! I am so excited for you!"
I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! I called them to confirm, and they confirmed it had been returned; I told them I would be there in 20 minutes to pick it up!
When I got there and asked the associate in the front, her eyes lit up, saying she had heard all about it and was so excited it had been found. She called one of the managers up to the front to help me. He was also very excited for the happy ending. I followed him back to the office and at least six other team members all came out to tell me how happy they were that it had been returned, and they had all heard about it and had been keeping watch hoping it would be brought back. There was also a customer standing there who said she was so happy to witness it in person as she had also been following the story.
I asked if there was any possible way they had the person's name or knew if they were a regular customer, just something for me to go on so that we could say thank you, send them something, but they don't know who it was.
All I know is that it was a gentleman who purchased the horse. I don't know how much he paid. I don't know if it was a gift for a child or anything else about him other than he saw one of my many shared posts on Facebook and wanted to donate it back and expected nothing in return.
So, my update has two purposes: to update you all who have been following, who've shared the post, and who have been waiting anxiously, hoping for this exact update.
But it is also me asking for all of your help one more time, by sharing this post far and wide, in hopes that it will reach the wonderful, kind and generous person who made sure our family got something back that has more sentimental value that money could never buy.
To the kindhearted gentleman who returned the horse, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts! It means the world to us to have it back and to be able to continue to pass it along to the children in our family. I hope your coffee is always strong and the perfect temperature. I hope that both sides of your pillow are always cold. I hope the world treats you kindly, and for only all good things in your life.
Thank you all so much for all your help, shares and well wishes for us to get it back. We hope you all have a warm, safe Christmas and a gentle and kind new year.
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