Doretha Jenkins' Retirement Fund
Donation protected
Thirty Years of Cobb Salad and Cream Caramel
In 1982, Charlie Golson quit his job at the Hilton Head Inn as Executive Chef, and bought a tiny french restaurant called Le Bon Vivant (The Good Life). Several of his coworkers decided they would come along on the new adventure. Doretha Jenkins was one of those very special people. She has worked her entire life in the kitchen....40 of those with our family. She is the woman behind the beloved Cobb Salad, Creme Caramel, the days of past omelets, and much more.
As with most of Charlie's employees, Charlie came up with the nickname "Essie." Essie commuted an hour each way from Ridgeland to work the lunch shift. Never learning to drive herself, she often hopped early morning rides to make it over to the island. She is a spit fire of a hard working lady. We have loved her dearly for her ardent demeanor. Charlie and she had a working relationship more akin to husband and wife.
For many years she has struggled with diabetes. After we reopened in April we held off opening lunch in concern for her. June first she bravely came back with mask on, and never skipped a beat. However it didn't last long. She became almost completely blind in both eyes deeming her unable to work. We have struggled to figure out how we could retire Essie. She had always told us, if she wasn't working she was going to the grave. But there was also a bigger problem.
Even though Essie receives a modest Social Security check, she is the main bread winner of her household. Her husband is also elderly and ill, along with her son. Her family depends on her job to make the mortgage payment and maintain health care. It is our goal to keep her in the house she built forty five years ago on a gifted piece of land.
In our goal to retire her the right way we have discovered she is not in good financial standing with her home mortgage. Essie has never had a bank account, and thus lacks good credit standing. Along the way she refinanced her home with a predatory lender. We have explored many avenues as to how we can help with the mortgage without any luck. We have found these types of loans are common among those with limited credit resources.
It is our goal to raise enough funds so her home can be refinanced or so that she can at minimum secure payments for the next few years. The mortgage rate is so high that it would be impossible for her to pay it off in her life time. With that said, we will be giving half of all Cobb Salad and her Sweet Tomato Vinaigrette sales to the fund through Labor Day. Please help us help one of our beloved.
In 1982, Charlie Golson quit his job at the Hilton Head Inn as Executive Chef, and bought a tiny french restaurant called Le Bon Vivant (The Good Life). Several of his coworkers decided they would come along on the new adventure. Doretha Jenkins was one of those very special people. She has worked her entire life in the kitchen....40 of those with our family. She is the woman behind the beloved Cobb Salad, Creme Caramel, the days of past omelets, and much more.
As with most of Charlie's employees, Charlie came up with the nickname "Essie." Essie commuted an hour each way from Ridgeland to work the lunch shift. Never learning to drive herself, she often hopped early morning rides to make it over to the island. She is a spit fire of a hard working lady. We have loved her dearly for her ardent demeanor. Charlie and she had a working relationship more akin to husband and wife.
For many years she has struggled with diabetes. After we reopened in April we held off opening lunch in concern for her. June first she bravely came back with mask on, and never skipped a beat. However it didn't last long. She became almost completely blind in both eyes deeming her unable to work. We have struggled to figure out how we could retire Essie. She had always told us, if she wasn't working she was going to the grave. But there was also a bigger problem.
Even though Essie receives a modest Social Security check, she is the main bread winner of her household. Her husband is also elderly and ill, along with her son. Her family depends on her job to make the mortgage payment and maintain health care. It is our goal to keep her in the house she built forty five years ago on a gifted piece of land.
In our goal to retire her the right way we have discovered she is not in good financial standing with her home mortgage. Essie has never had a bank account, and thus lacks good credit standing. Along the way she refinanced her home with a predatory lender. We have explored many avenues as to how we can help with the mortgage without any luck. We have found these types of loans are common among those with limited credit resources.
It is our goal to raise enough funds so her home can be refinanced or so that she can at minimum secure payments for the next few years. The mortgage rate is so high that it would be impossible for her to pay it off in her life time. With that said, we will be giving half of all Cobb Salad and her Sweet Tomato Vinaigrette sales to the fund through Labor Day. Please help us help one of our beloved.
Organizer
Margaret Pearman
Organizer
Ridgeland, SC