Helping LA afford a car

UPDATE!!! WE HAVE REACHED $5000 and my heart and nervous system can hardly handle what I have witnessed today. Because I truly feel like I have stood in the face of a miracle, I am upping the goal to $7000. I am so touched by all of you and can not begin to say thank you and how much I appreciate your generosity. Please consider an air high-five and my endless gratitude in return.
XOXOXO

Yello all.

 

LA (Lawanda) has been my cleaning lady for over a year. She is a truly incredible woman - excellent at running her own business, dependable, honest, caring, and in addition to her growing house-cleaning business she also does hair braiding, photography and will occasionally ordain a wedding.;) Like most people in my life, I have blurred the boundaries because I am drawn to stories and getting to know one another. And so here we are.

 

LA has been no stranger to difficulties both past and present - most recently learning just how bad her daughter's hearing is (from a post on 9/21/21: So today I received news from Madison's audiologist..... she is 100% deaf in her right ear and 75% in her left ear! it hurts me deeply because as a parent I can't do anything to change it. after receiving the news I just sat in my car and cried.... no one understands until you have to go through this.)

 

But the reason I am writing this is because of her ongoing car issues. She has been through at least 3 vehicles (right?) since I have met her. Circumstances are not allowing her to save up in a way that can afford a reliable and decent car. The car she mentioned above was a 1988 Lincoln that is continuously breaking down.

 

During these months of having unreliable vehicles, she would Uber to her clients' houses.

With her cleaning supplies.

And she didn't even tell us this was happening.

And she was on time.

(I am not on time, ever, without cleaning supplies and I have a car.)

 

It is tempting to paint a very sympathetic portrait in a very transparent way to ask people to consider donating (a little is totally fine. So is a lot.) But I also want to celebrate LA because we could all use a win. She is kind, thoughtful, she is so warm and sweet to my children, she cleans my countertops and floors better than I do, she lets me ask questions and have conversations here and there about race, she loves God, she loves her family and I think as humans part of our calling on earth is to just treat each other well and take care of each other where we can.

 

So please consider donating (anything, truly) to help get LA some better wheels. Her budget is $1100, and I thought we could possibly try to match it. But I also know sometimes the world can be magical, and every now and then it actually feels incredible to watch the gift of generosity spark and spread, giving us the warmth and glow that we all are looking for in times like these.

I am going to close this on Friday, 10/1/21 so she can hopefully use the funds ASAP to get a new car.

Blessings, love and shiny countertops to you all -

Much love,

Kiley

(P.S. She has four kids and you know I have immediate space in my heart for any mother running that marathon.)