Thanks to three inquisitive Yucaipa youngsters, the building fund for the newly organized Yucaipa Valley Spanish Company is $900 richer.

The children found the money in a wallet that had been donated to the church some time ago with other things. At the close of a parking lot sale to benefit the church, Rodrigo and Laura Madrigal of Yucaipa and Ilse Romero of Beaumont were rummaging through a stack of unsold items. Used purses and wallets, given to the group by unknown persons, aroused their curiosity.

Opening a wallet, Rodrigo found some 22-cent stamps. His mother told him that the wallet must be very old because first-class stamps have not sold for 22 cents for many years.

Digging deeper, Rodrigo found paper money. Excitedly, he pulled it out and counted 45 worn $20 dollar bills wrapped in a rubber band. It totaled $900.

Rodrigo immediately thought of all the things that he could personally purchase with this money. He shared the news with his sister and her friend and collectively they decided that this wallet and the contents should be given to the fund their church had set up for purchasing land on Bryant Street in Yucaipa.

With the wallet and bills in their hands, they raced to find church officials. "We think this should be given to the building fund for the church lot," they said.

Lucio Calla, coordinator for the newly organized Hispanic company, agreed with the youngsters and congratulated them on their find.

"We do not know who gave this wallet to the church," the pastor said, "but it was probably some time ago. It is possible that the former owner intended the money to be given to the church for its project."

Derek Morris, senior pastor of the Calimesa Church, the mother organization, also thanked the children. The money made a significant addition to the $2,200 gained from the parking lot sale. Payments are being made on a monthly basis for the property where the new church is to be built.