MIDVALE, Utah (ABC 4 News) - The next time you pass through a drive-through you may see a 94-year-old woman collecting coins for charity.
Della Stilmar makes her route to six restaurants six days a week. "I thought walking around the fast food places I'd be safe and that's how I started," she said.
One day Della noticed something shinny underneath a drive through window. "The depression in me came out in me when they
started dropping change I started picking it up," she said.
Della was only about 11-years-old when the depression hit. As the 12th of 13 children she knows what it's like to go without, but this hardship
sharpened her senses-- making her more compassionate. This is probably the reason all the money she collects goes to homeless boys in the Salt Lake Valley.
"I'm glad that I can do something for them because I sure could have used it when I was growing up," Stilmar said.
A quarter here, a penny there, her earnings add up to about 16 cents the day an ABC 4 crew walked with her.
"I'm always glad to get it," Stilmar said.
Boys are getting a little extra help from a great-grandmother who knows a thing or two about hard times.
"I grew up, like I said, during the depression on a farm in Arizona," said Stilmar.
She's passing on a little extra help to younger generations and she's hoping they too will help others when their chance comes.
Della has picked up coins for about ten years in Utah. She says it takes about three months to collect $100, which means she has given about $4000 to homeless boys at the Youth Village.
