While the greed of unknown thieves cost her $1,500 worth of herbs and a little faith in humanity, the kindness of strangers has renewed the faith of an Adamsville herb farmer who had more than 300 plants stolen from her earlier this summer.

Nicole Wordell has operated a small herb farm on Main Road for more than 20 years but considered giving up the hobby she loves next year, after 300 plants were stolen by persons unknown over the past month or so.

But a gofundme campaign set up by a Barrington man last Tuesday has reached its goal, ensuring that Wordell will be made whole for the loss of those plants. As of Monday morning, the campaign had raised $1,545, enough to ensure the release of funds to the long-timer farmer.

“It makes me feel so good,” said Wordell, who had never met the gofundme campaign’s founder until he contacted her last week about the online fund-raising campaign.

“He doesn’t know me, and he still did something like this to help? It means a lot to know that people care.”

Pedro Perez, of Barrington, was reading the Sakonnet Times online last Tuesday when he came across Wordell’s story. Though he lives in Barrington, he did not grow up in the United States and said honor system-based farm stands like hers are part of the unique charm and fabric of small town life. It made him sad to hear of the betrayal of that trust.

“I come from a place where an honor system stand wouldn’t even be a thing,” he said. “I am very bothered by stories like these about small injustices that jeopardize the social contract of the communities we live in.”

Perez wasn’t the only one to reach out after the thefts were reported, and Wordell said it has been a busy week at the stand, full of heartening interactions with other strangers and friends.

“I’ve had people put cards in the money box saying, ‘Please don’t stop,’” she said. “Someone came down from Old Stone Church and gave me a $100 check. Two women came to the stand and said they put a little extra in the money box to help out. And I heard from a lot of other people too,” including a local man who told her he wanted to install surveillance equipment on her property to help protect her produce, and make it easier to track down anyone who tries to steal from her again.

“I got some really nice compliments,” she said. “Everyone that stopped by when I’ve been out there mentioned they’d heard about it, and that they were sorry. It’s nice to know that there are honest people out there.”

Wordell said the overwhelming responses has made her rethink her decision to possibly close the stand next year. Meanwhile, Little Compton police continue to investigate the thefts, which she reported to them several weeks ago.