NANAIMO, B.C. – A British Columbia woman hopes her charitable impulse won't cost her a cherished diamond ring.

Trinda Gajek was visiting Nanaimo last week when she stopped to ask a young man if he needed some help.

The Salt Spring Island resident said in an interview Monday, Dec 18, she dumped the contents of her change purse into her hand and gave the man all she had.

It was only later she remembered her diamond ring was in her change purse for safekeeping.

"I rolled down my window and asked if I could help him, if he needed any money, and he agreed that he did need some money. I gave him the money and in that exchange was my ring," she said. "He wasn't begging. He didn't approach my vehicle."

Gajek reported the loss to the police, but said the young man received it honestly, with no question of criminal intent. She's just hoping the ring her children helped her buy will be returned.

"I've always loved the ring, because its comfortable and it's the memory of the kids and I pooling our money together to buy it. The kids always called it my good-mother ring."

The ring has a thin band with baguette, or rectangular, diamonds across the top.

She said it can be dropped off at the Salvation Army Community Services Centre in Nanaimo.

"I feel really hopeful. Maybe it's just the Christmas season, I don't know," she said. "If I do get the ring back, I'm happy to pay a solid reward for it."