For Josiah Vargas, the start of an extraordinary day came from a hankering for some breakfast at the Golden Arches.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Vargas recently bought a sausage McMuffin at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Elkhart, Indiana.
He was handed a bag, started to pull away from the drive-thru window, and then discovered he was given a bag full of cash rather than his food, in a report on Sunday from Indianapolis’ WXIN-TV.
The shocked young man made the decision to grab his phone and record a TikTok video. In the McDonald’s food bag, Vargas displayed the cash. He pulled them out and held them in front of the camera. It was portioned into tiny baggies. He assumed that what he had been given was a store deposit, and he estimated that it was worth a couple of thousand dollars or so.
“Like, what is this? Why would they do this? What the f***. So now I have to return this because I’m a good person — I guess,” he asked.
He then acted out a struggle within himself over what to do next, “OK, I’m [still] at McDonald’s. Why would you guys do this to me?”
“Do you know how bad I want this money? Why put me in this situation?” Vargas said.
According to CNBC, given that he opened the car door and entered the scene carrying the bag of money, which turned out to be $5,000, it would appear that good prevailed.
He then joked, “Are you laundering money out here?”
Vargas claimed in the video that the stunned McDonald’s employees showed their gratitude through hugs and tears.
One reader said, “You are a blessing from God.”
He continued, giving a thumbs up, stating he had received $200 and a month’s worth of free McDonald’s. And with a smile, Vargas said, “Do good, people.”
Additionally, he indicated the desire for his video to become viral, which it did as of Tuesday afternoon; it had received 2.3 million views.
Estephan Awad, the proprietor of the shop, stated in a statement to the Star, “Josiah’s actions are an inspiration to us all and we are eternally grateful for him returning our bank deposit.”
Throughout his character, Vargas demonstrated that he has an element of integrity. For his act of integrity, his older sister Haddie Keenum evidently thought he deserved an additional prize, so she set up a GoFundMe in his honor.
“Let’s come together and get this man that money tho! He deserves it!! He’s one of the most honest and hardest workers I know. And I grew up with the kid!!” she wrote.
Many people would have opted to keep the money, nevertheless. Vargas admitted to feeling tempted, but he resisted the urge, and at least one McDonald’s employee credited his fortitude with saving his life.
Watch the video below:
@dookiedoeboy
Sources: WesternJournal, CNBC, Indianapolis Star, WXIN-TV