He put his daughter’s NICU frock on his childhood doll, then accidentally donated it. Goodwill’s VP 'had a feeling' it was nearby
Anna Simon thought she had lost her doll forever until the news reached Goodwill's leadership
Dropping a donation box off at a local charity usually means saying goodbye to those items forever. Even more so because even if a person mistakenly donates something they didn't intend to, retrieving it is like finding a needle in a haystack. So when Chesapeake resident Anna Simon discovered her husband had accidentally donated her cherished doll, an irreplaceable keepsake, to the local Goodwill, hope was slim. Desperate for a lead, Simon turned to her community, and they didn't disappoint, as reported by WAVY TV 10 (@wavy) on August 22, 2026, garnering over 16,000 views.
The accidental donation
The ordeal began when Simon's better half unwittingly dropped off her treasured heirloom at a local Goodwill store. For her, the doll was never merely a plaything. On the contrary, it was her favorite doll while growing up and was dressed in a onesie that her daughter wore while fighting for her life in the NICU. Recognizing the massive slip-up, Simon initially tried to temper her heartbreak by reminding herself, "While it’s sentimental to me, it’s a thing. It is stuff." But that didn't stop her from contacting local news and putting up plead across social media.
800 oversized freight containers
Simon's plea soon reached the Goodwill leadership; thanks to it being televised, they contacted the local warehouse. However, at first, the supervisors deemed the task of retrieving the doll impossible. That made sense; after all, the facility packed more than 800 oversized freight containers. But after much deliberation, the team decided to jump into action anyway. They knew they needed to act fast, and so they came up with a plan. The team decided to reduce their search to specific containers based on the day they were dropped and their location.
8th box held something special
Staff members soon began digging through the shortlisted boxes early the next morning, tackling what many viewed as a long shot. Against all odds, their hard work paid off, and the crew found the heirloom in the eighth box on their list. Delighted by the discovery, the warehouse team didn't just pull the doll from the bin. Instead, they took things up a notch by prepping the doll for its return and placing it inside a brand-new toy stroller.
A wholesome reunion
Later that afternoon, a grateful Simon arrived at the facility carrying boxes of fresh donuts to personally thank the team that moved mountains for her family. Overwhelmed when handed the doll, she said, "I would love it, thank you so much! Oh my gosh, thank you, guys." Meanwhile, she also received a letter from the regional CEO expressing their gratitude for the family's steady generosity. They also advised her to double-check boxes, as this might just be a one-time catch.
Millions lose items every year
Well, Simon isn't the only one to have misplaced or lost an item; this is a common occurrence in any American household. According to a Lostings 2023 report, about 60% of Americans report losing a personal item within the past year or so. These include cell phones, keys, wallets, and much more. Moreover, the average person then spends around 2.5 days of their year looking for these items, yet only 33% are ever able to retrieve their belongings. This shows just how lucky Simon has been in this instance.
Thankful she got the doll back
People also loved the entire story and were happy to see Simon finally be reunited with her doll. @NikkiDeJonge wrote, "This puts a smile on my face. I have a special doll too...because I'm not able to have children, I have CP. And I'm glad she got her doll back." Meanwhile, @CarolynLong-c6i commented, "I have dolls from Ashton Drake and Paradise Galleries. These dolls are expensive. Glad she got her doll back. All of our dolls have sentimental value."
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