Local hero needs a hero this holiday

Sometimes we all need a hero, even a hero needs a hero and right now this hero is calling on all of us. Now you’re probably wondering why I would refer to her as a hero. Continue reading...

Tamara Hewlett or “Tammy” was born and grew up in the Carson City area with her parents and two brothers. She has a huge personality and presence as most redheads do. She is a force to be reckoned with and can sing like nobody’s business.


I’d like to share who Tammy really is: She has one of those personalities that brings a smile to most peoples face with a friendly hello and a willingness to chat with anyone. A few moments of conversation and you quickly realize she wears her heart on her sleeve and would give anyone the shirt off her back.

Tammy has always been fearless and the life of any crowd or party and enjoys being social like nobody I have ever met before.

After a medical retirement in 2016 she was left almost financially destitute since her social security retirement was an abysmal amount after having worked for the state of Nevada. A job she was grateful to have but ultimately left her miserable and having almost no faith left in humanity.



Without many options she decided to give being an Uber driver a shot. She didn’t have anything to lose so with gusto she entered the ride-share arena. At first she was unsure of it, having strangers in her car, being a female that would be driving those strangers. This concerned her but it never deterred her.

Soon she realized that she loved driving Uber, her passengers loved her outgoing and friendly personality. She quickly became a highly rated driver on both Uber and Lyft. Pretty quickly she realized she loved her job, she enjoyed being social with her passengers and she was an all around happier person. Her faith in humanity was being restored one ride at a time. 


Tammy suffers from depressions like many of us do. “Doing this job has made the biggest difference in my outlook” she told the Nevada Appeal. “Every day is a better day, and I found my self-worth again.”


She had found her niche, her freedom and a happiness she hadn’t had with ANY previous job. Her mantra quickly became “be a blessing” and with that she had found freedom, control and a general sense of well being.





Now the reason I call her a hero is because I know she has gotten countless intoxicated people home safely, stopped a potential domestic disturbance or two. One of those times she picked up a woman getting out of a horrible relationship who didn’t have enough money for the 30 mile ride to nearby Reno, NV.

So what did Tammy do? I’ll tell you...

Not only did she give her a ride to Reno, but she also drove her on a handful of errands around town before they departed for no charge. Yup, she saw this lady really needed to get out of her situation and instead of telling her no as a few Uber drivers before Tammy had told her, she just drove her. To show kindness to another human being.

That is a hero, ladies and gentlemen.



It all sounds pretty great, right?

A few days ago on Nov. 28, less than a week after Thanksgiving, her car was stolen.

“Things like that don’t happen in our small town.” Apparently they do.

Tammy was in downtown Carson City and someone took her keys that were left sitting on a chair by mistake. This was caught on video, however it wasn’t clear enough to prove the crime. The thieves then went outside and beeped her key fob until her vehicle chimed and off they went. Her car had just been stolen.

So in a blink of an eye. She lost more than those thieves will ever know. She lost her livelihood, her freedom as well as her social outlet all when her car was stolen.



Tammy is devastated to say the least, but she tries her best to keep her head up.

She is unable to drive Uber or Lyft, so she has no income coming in and with Christmas only a few weeks away the timing couldn’t be worse. Not that there is ever a good time to have your car stolen.

So far the sheriff’s department hasn’t been able to locate her car and she will most likely never see her vehicle again. At least not in the same condition.


Her insurance will only cover a portion of what she owed on the car and she will be left paying for a car she no longer has at no fault of her own.

The insurance will reimburse her the value of her car, which is estimated at $4,600 however she still owes approximately $10,000 on the car. “That leaves me paying $5,400 for a car I don’t even have” she said.

This isn’t even taking into account the cost of a new car, all of the registration and ride-share inspection fees as well as what was inside her car when it was stolen. There is also the added cost of changing all the locks in her home that these thieves now have keys to.

This hero needs us all to be heroes for her. She needs a safe, dependable vehicle that will pass Uber and Lyft inspections as well as the ability to replace everything that was in her car at the time it was stolen.

Let’s fight for her.

Tammy was very apprehensive about using Go Fund Me and putting herself out there. She didn’t ask for anything, but I convinced her to give it try.

Are you ready to be a hero?!

As a personal thank you, Tammy has offered to give anyone in the Carson City or Reno area who donates, a free ride within 30 miles.

She didn’t believe me that people would read her story let alone donate. I think it’s time we make her a believer.

Thank you for any and all support.

Her favorite passenger, Mick.