INSPIRING NEWS

Published in the Polk County Ledger, August 29, 2005
Honesty, the Best Policy

About two weeks ago, Canesha Blackman, a homeless mother of five, found a Polk County sheriff's detective's handbag. It had $800 in cash and two paychecks in it, as well as the usual important cards.

The 24-year-old Blackman didn't bother to look inside. She simply turned it into the Polk Government Center in Lakeland where the bag was found.

For the bag's owner, Deputy Sandy Scherer, it was a happy ending.

For Blackman, it appears to be a happy beginning.

The Ledger's story about the returned bag circulated around the world. Last week, the Polk County Sheriff's Office announced that nearly $10,000 has been collected to help Blackman and her children. Some might call them "donations." She calls them blessings.

A private company has offered an apartment for her and her children. A Tampa company has offered to furnish it, and pay the first year's rent and day-care fees.

Blackman said she's going to enroll in classes, get her GED and start computer classes.

Starting this week, contributions can be made at any Bank of America to the "Canesha Blackman Fund." Checks, payable to the Polk County Sheriff's Office with the notation "Canesha Blackman" in the memo field, can be mailed to the sheriff's office at 455 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow, FL 33803.

A happy beginning, all because of an old -- but sometimes-not-often-followed -- bit of advice: honesty is the best policy.