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Man Who Offers Stimulus Cash To Strangers Discovers It's Easier To Receive Than To Give

PRINEVILLE, Ore. (CBS Local) -- An Oregon man who wanted to use some of his coronavirus stimulus check to help people in need discovered that giving money away isn't as easy as he thought it would be.

Larry Bellah, who works full-time as a welder, took $200 of his federal stimulus check and stood with his daughter in front of the Erickson's Thriftway in Prineville, offering people $20 to help pay for their groceries.

But the initial reaction from customers was not what he expected.

This guy out front of my store is giving his stimulus check out to those that need it. ❤ Make him famous ❤❤❤

Posted by Stacey Baker on Wednesday, April 22, 2020

"Most of them gave money to us," he told KTVZ.

Bellah doubled his money, eventually ending up with about $400. But he was still determined to give some of his money away.

"People wouldn't take our money, so we went inside and stood by the cash registers and bought everybody's groceries until we were gone," he said.

Prineville man helps others pay for groceries by KTVZ NewsChannel 21 on YouTube

Bellah said he was able to buy groceries for about seven people.

He said he brought his daughter along to "show her that helping people is a good thing."

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