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Woman turns Seattle mugging into opportunity to help others

A Kitsap County woman, mugged on a recent trip to Seattle, has turned a negative experience into a positive.
A Kitsap County woman, mugged on a recent trip to Seattle, has turned a negative experience into a positive.

It was not the trip to the big city Erica Cardiel had in mind. Her friend was in from California back in May and wanted to see Seattle.

The pair hopped a ferry from Bainbridge Island to see the sights. A day at the Great Wheel, the Space Needle, and the Folklife Festival was just about perfect. While walking through a fairly crowded Pike Place Market, they were mugged.

"She was just like, you know I need this drink more than you do. And you know I'm stuck out here," said Cardiel.

They were stunned, didn't know what to do, except hand over the beverage and a few bucks.

"I was like angry and like I was upset because I had never been in that situation before," she said.

But she didn't stay angry for long. Instead, she wanted to give more.

"In the Native American community we were always taught to give back," Cardiel said.

So she went to her community in and around Poulsbo and asked for help. One of Cardiel's first of several stops this week, hoping to fill her car to the top.

"I have a whole bunch of toiletries that were donated from clients over a period of time," said Salon Owner Linda Rosario.

On Friday, she'll drive to Seattle and deliver those goods to three different shelters.

"I don't know if everything happens for a reason, I just think this just happened to open my eyes a little more," said Cardiel.

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