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Over the past few years during the pandemic, books, children’s toys, and CDs, have mysteriously appeared in the lobby of the South Miami Post Office (33143), left by an unknown person.
According to the postal staff, these items were left for anyone who wanted them. And if anyone liked something they could just take it.
At first it seemed like a one of thing, but as the books, toys, and CDs kept appearing in the post office lobby, people began to notice, and some wanted to know the identity of this generous and mysterious person.
When asked if the postal workers knew who was leaving the gifts and if there was a way to get in touch with them, they said they knew, but she had requested her name not be revealed.
But, with the help of the South Miami Post Office staff I was able to contact this person.
Even contacting them was a mysterious process. She would not let the postal staff give this writer her contact information. Instead she required giving my phone number to the staff and they would pass it along, and if she wanted to speak, she would contact me.
After carrying around the outline notes for this article on a slip of paper in my pocket for over three weeks, while waiting in hopes of speaking with her, I decided to type up the notes in hopes that I got a chance to speak with her. As I was typing, the phone rang and it was she. That was kind of mysterious too.
We finally met in the Barnes and Noble book store. Her name is Carole Stone, and she is a retired local high school English teacher.
Carole explained how she selects the gifts. She especially likes puzzles and games, plus books, clothes, toys, DVDs and CDs. She buys something because she likes it, and when she eventually tires of something or hasn’t used for a while, she gives it away. Before she gives something away she decides where or to whom would be the best way to gift it.
Carole has been anonymously gifting for many years to Goodwill and our public libraries.
She gifted to her school kids as rewards when she was still teaching, and she still gifts to friends. But she really enjoys the anonymous gifting at the post office.
But the gifting is more than just giving to her. She was single, with no family, so she had the ability to buy things she liked, and when she’s done with something, she gives it away. She sees it as sharing with others.
It is hard not to be curious when visiting the post office in anticipation of what unexpected little treasures may be found there, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed. That is Carole’s enduring pleasure — anonymous gifting.
