Help Sammy Get a Car for a New Beginning

One year ago, I followed what I now believe to be the Holy Spirit! I signed up to volunteer to be a mentor for a local female prisoner who would soon be reaching the end of her sentence or becoming eligible for parole. I was assigned to Sammy, and we were a perfect mentor-mentee match!

Sammy is a 33-year-old who was raised by parents who were addicted to drugs. Statistically, she was doomed right from the start. Sure enough, at age 11, she began her own addiction to alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and then meth. I was playing competitive softball and soccer at that age, with parents who could afford all the equipment and team fees. I always knew I was lucky, but I've learned so much from this young lady about myself! For one, I’m pretty sure I was meant to be a mentor! It’s pretty exciting when you find your God-given purpose (other than being a loving mama to my beautiful & smart daughters!)

Fast forward 11 years and Sammy found herself in prison for the first time. After several years of serving hard time and failing to make it in the work-release/parole system, she followed what she now believes to be the Holy Spirit: she signed up to go to rehab at OneEighty (www.oneeighty.org). That’s about the point in her story when Sammy & I met because she also took the advice of a counselor and signed up for a mentor.

For nearly 7 months, Sammy and I have been meeting up 2-3 times per week. I go to church with her and her OneEighty family, who has welcomed me into their house. Sammy and the other residents are doing hard work at OneEighty. They keep the residents very busy working to pay for their housing, studying the Bible, and attending counseling classes that peel away the layers of trauma and shame that resulted in addictive behavior and low self-esteem. I am proud of each and every one of them! Some amazing stories of redemption and surrendering to Christ!

On August 14th, Sammy interviewed for a job and WAS OFFERED A FULL-TIME POSITION! She will be painting for a construction company that serves commercial clients, which is similar to the work she’s been doing for OneEighty! Sammy likes to see the positive change that she makes to each room that she paints. Plus, painting is kind of therapeutic, giving her plenty of time to think and pray. Painting just might be changing her, too!

SAMMY’s GOAL: to afford rent for a OneEighty-subsidized apartment where her kids can come live with her sometimes.

THE CHALLENGE: How does someone who is now 2+ years sober get to her painting job sites every day? Some jobs may be on or close to a bus route, but others may not. And what about bad weather days? She is committed to showing up and working hard every day! She wants to be the best mom she can be to her kids and make up for lost time.

MY MISSION: I would like to use GoFundMe to try to raise $7,500 to buy Sammy a car. It won’t be anything fancy at that price point, but it is a start. Sammy needs reliable transportation to get to work so she can start being a productive member of our community and earn visitation rights!

DETAILS: Donations will be kept in a checking account in my name, and I will oversee all checks/withdrawals. Any extra funds will be spent on her car maintenance (new tires, brakes, tune-up, etc.). For those who know me and prefer to mail me a check with “Sammy” in the memo, that will avoid GoFundMe fees so more money goes straight towards a car for Sammy! If we don’t reach my goal, the donations will go towards a downpayment for a car loan, or to pay someone per ride.