Couple hides $1,000 inside baby products at Target Stores to help new parents 'make ends meet'

Editor's note: This article was originally published on May 28, 2021. It has since been updated.

A couple who struggled financially after becoming parents is now helping other parents in similar situations. Krystal Duhaney and her husband Patrick are spreading the love by leaving $1,000 worth of cash inside baby products at various Target stores in Southern California, reported People. After having struggled financially in their early days, the couple has now moved up the financial ladder, with Krystal founding Milky Mama, a company that provides breastfeeding support to parents around the world. Krystal is a mother of two and a registered nurse and describes herself as a Mompreneur.

Expenses can shoot up when you have a baby, and Krystal Duhaney and her husband Patrick experienced it firsthand when they welcomed their firstborn. The pair from California are aware that there could be so many families in similar positions, with their financial situation compounded by the pandemic. It started at the end of April when Krystal shared a video of the couple inserting dollar bills into diaper boxes and unopened formula lids at the Target stores.

"Being a parent can be tough! Before I founded @milkymamallc, we often struggled to make ends meet," wrote Krystal Duhaney in the post. "So, Hubby and I went to various Target stores in Southern California and hid money in baby items. We hope that the parents that purchase these items have a brighter day when they find our gifts," she added. Krystal said she knows all too well the struggle when you become a parent. "When we had our first baby, we struggled to make ends meet," wrote Krystal. "Now that I own a successful business, I wanted to give back."

After slipping in dollar bills in baby products at a Target store, they decided to continue the same at other Target stores in Signal Hill, Manhattan Beach, and Carson locations. "We really wanted to make things a little easier," she told KABC. "Hopefully brighten their day and hopefully inspire others to kind of, you know, spread joy and kindness." She also views it as a lesson her kids can learn from. "As parents raising two young children, it's really important for us to let our children know... kindness matters and that you never know what somebody's going through," said Krystal.

Krystal also added that the pair were careful not to tamper with the products. "Diaper containers are sealed. The diapers are wrapped inside the box as well as formula," she explained. "It's not like we're putting it in the powder. There's a cover. So, we were very, you know, intentional and we were making sure that we paid close attention to those types of things as well, to make sure that we weren't actually contaminating anything." 

The post has since gone viral, garnering over 95,000 likes and hundreds of comments. The couple was praised for their generosity. "Wow! That is so awesome! Bless you and your family! This is beautiful. We need more people like you in this world," wrote one user. Another person was inspired by the couple, writing, "Thanks for doing this and posting about it. My wife and I will definitely do this, we are surrounded by a lot of underprivileged areas that this type of gesture can really make an impact." Another wrote, "Stealing this idea."

You can follow Krystal on Instagram, and on Facebook.