Emily Brown
A Florida woman who had her entire driveway stolen has given a $10,000 donation to charity using the money she had raised to replace it.
When it comes to protecting your property from criminals, you usually focus on objects like jewellery, tech or cars.
You don't expect the ground itself to be at risk, and yet Amanda Brochu, from Orange County, learned the hard way that it shouldn't be overlooked.
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Brochu's doorbell camera captured the moment a bulldozer arrived outside her home and tore up her entire driveway, leaving only the mud underneath.
The shocking theft came shortly after Brochu listed her home for sale, ready to move into a new home nearby.
Soon after she listed her home, Brochu was approached by alleged contractors who measured her driveway and said they'd been sent to price up the cost of replacing it.
Brochu sent the workers away and the man responsible for their appearance claimed it was a mistake - but just a week later her driveway was stolen.
Unable to sell her home without a driveway, Brochu quickly started a GoFundMe page to raise the money needed to replace it.
"The cost to replace the driveway is astronomical and I’m seeking some sort of help so I don’t lose the opportunity to purchase my forever home that my kids have already fell in love with," Brochu wrote on the fundraiser.
"Thank you to anyone that can help and anything helps!"
Supportive internet users rallied around Brochu and she was flooded with donations, quickly raising more than $13,500 for her new driveway.
As her story went viral, Orange City-based company MM Concrete Specialty caught wind of what had happened and offered to replace Brochu’s driveway for free.
Brochu has now closed the fundraiser, but despite still being short on cash amid the process of trying to sell her house, she began thinking about how the money could be put to better use.
With the help of 9 Family Connection and McCoy Federal Credit Union, Brochu was able to surprise The Russell Home charity with a donation of $10,000.
The donation comes as the home, which specializes in the care of newborns, children and adults with severe disabilities, prepares to expand the number of permanent residents receiving 24 hour care.
“I didn’t think I was going to receive the attention, but I got it for a reason,” Brochu said as she explained her donation. “It’s going to a good cause.”
One of the granddaughters of Vantrease Russell, who founded the facility, said the donation could pay for five months of electricity or medical equipment like hearing aids.
Brochu had the opportunity to tour The Russell Home as she made her donation, and commented: "I was put in a bad situation. But there’s a beautiful outcome to this story.”