Many malls have a make-a-wish fountain inside, and people, especially kids, love tossing coins into them. These fountains are often connected to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which collects the coins and uses the donations to help grant wishes for children. Even in places where the fountain is not officially tied to donations, the coins people throw in are still meant to be left alone. No one is supposed to take them.
However, that didn’t stop a group of New Jersey teens. Someone filmed them at the fountain inside American Dream Mall as they reached in and stole the coins people had tossed in.
In the video, the three New Jersey teens were seen gathering the coins they scooped from the fountain and piling them beside it. Instead of taking a few and leaving, one of them actually stepped back toward the water to grab even more. The woman recording couldn’t believe what she was witnessing. Noting how old they looked, she said in disbelief, “He isn’t a kid. That’s like an adult.”
What made the situation worse was that the teens did all of this openly, right in front of everyone, without caring how inappropriate or disrespectful their behavior was. It is honestly shameful that anyone would do this. And for what? A handful of coins that weren’t theirs to begin with.
People Reacting to the New Jersey Teens’ Behavior
What the New Jersey teens did sparked outrage as people couldn’t believe that anyone would do this. Since the coins are used for donations, one person wrote, “Those coins are donated to children’s charities during the holidays. He’s stealing from charity. Disgustingly shameful behavior.” Another person pointed out how even a kid wouldn’t do this. “When I was a kid I thought about doing this at the fountain in the mall, but even then I knew it was a shameful thing to do,” they wrote. Someone else then replied, “I was taught that stealing is wrong, of course, but I also didn’t want to undo anyone’s wishes.” It’s wrong no matter what way you look at it.
Unfortunately, because the New Jersey teens were Jewish, many of the comments focused on that fact, and they were not kind. Beyond those inappropriate remarks, some people were frustrated that the person filming did not intervene.
One commenter wrote, “Parents? These are not toddlers or young kids. Their parents failed them miserably years ago… and instead of filming, put down the camera and yell. Shame the [expletive] out of them.”
Another person pointed out a particularly heartbreaking moment in the video: “I think the worst part may be the kid who comes over to put a coin in, and the mom stops and points out the teenager grabbing the coins toward the end.”
Hopefully, that child will get the chance to make a wish at the fountain one day without someone stealing the moment or the coins.
