Help Karen Get Back on the Road

Karen’s van replacement fund pays for a new vehicle to restore her rides and cart

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66 donors
0% complete

$3,675 raised of $10K

Help Karen Get Back on the Road

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For more than 25 years, Karen has been a familiar, smiling face serving hot dogs outside Cardinals games through K’s Unique Dogs. Rain or shine, win or lose — she has shown up. She’s fed families, laughed with customers, watched kids grow up, and built relationships that go far beyond a transaction. Her cart isn’t just a business. It’s her pride. It’s her independence. It’s her heart. She expanded into small catering events, continuing to grow something she built with her own two hands. And for over 13 years, she has also operated K’s Private Rides, providing safe, dependable transportation to people who rely on her.

But everything changed after two devastating accidents. First, her van was struck by a semi that failed to stop. Then, in an unrelated accident, she was hit by an uninsured driver. After both collisions, the vehicle she depends on — her office, her storage, her transportation — is now unusable. The insurance payout is barely enough to replace it. Without a van, she cannot run her private rides business, transport supplies, or operate her hot dog cart. It also makes caring for her elderly mother — whom she is the primary caregiver for — even more difficult. On top of this, Karen has been navigating personal struggles and ongoing health issues that have caused significant pain and anxiety. Yet she continues to push forward with strength and determination.

For 25 years, Karen has shown up for this community. Now it’s our turn to show up for her. Every dollar helps. Every share matters. Let’s help her get back on the road — back to serving, back to caring for her mom, and back to the work she loves. When a community comes together, anything is possible.

Organizer and beneficiary

Tanya Strain Hood
Organizer
Fairview Heights, IL

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