Strangers find stolen booth

Photo: Contributed

Conny Riemer, left, and Rob Elliott stand with Little Dido.

The Kelowna community has shown its true colours after a theft left many people disappointed.

A handmade kissing booth used to raise money for Pacific Assistance Dog Society was stolen on Friday from a driveway off Leathead Road and reported to Castanet News on Sunday.

Alli Sandberg, who works as a volunteer puppy-raiser, said the kissing booth has been a big source of donations for Pacific Assistance Dog Society.

A stranger saw the news on Facebook and wanted to offer a $200 reward for anyone who found the booth.

“I have three dogs and I have Multiple Sclerosis and at some point I am going to be in a wheelchair,” said Rob Elliott.

He said it was a pretty sad thing for someone to steal something like that.

“It didn’t sit well with me at all,” he said.

Elliott hoped the person who took the booth would prefer the money and give it back.

Just a few hours after publishing the story, a Kelowna resident remembered seeing the red and white sign in a parking lot off Sutherland Road and contacted the owner.

“I saw it in my work parking lot on Friday,” said Conny Riemer. “I messaged my colleague after I saw the article today. He checked and it was still there and he brought it in.”

The kissing booth was returned to Sandberg and Elliot gave the reward to Riemer, who split the money with her coworker.

“I am glad they got it back,” said Elliott.