Let's Roll for La Vette - Van Fund

LaVette Miller is one of the three most incredible people that we at 1Matters have ever met.  What makes her incredible is not just her extraordinary life change, but her consistent effort to work to matter to others.

We're here to ask you to help our friend, LaVette, gain her independence which she desires to use to help others. 

LaVette is confined to a wheelchair, having lost both her legs in tragic circumstances. The money raised for La Vette will go to buy her a specially modified van so she can have reliable transportation to her job, to the community events and volunteer work she loves so much, and for her future.

La Vette's Story
(as told by her friends & fellow volunteers with 1Matters)

How do you describe the joy you feel when you watch someone you love transform and discover a new, deep love for themselves and others, one that compels them to move from taker to giver, from angry to loving?

We first met La Vette downtown during Toledo's Tent City 2008, and she was one of the very few people we've kicked out over the years because of her behavior. The same thing happened the following year.

We'd see her occasionally on Saturdays at Food For Thought, and we got glimpses of the True LaVette underneath the brusque, often surly, demeanor.  Over time we found out more about her: a bullet that hit her spine left her confined to a wheelchair; she was working to become clean and sober; she was now housed, but struggling; she wanted a job; she was funny; she was smart as a whip.

The third Tent City came, and her attitude was as strong as ever. This time, however, the volunteers who'd fallen in love with her despite her walls surrounded her in a circle, praying for her and telling her they believed in her. It was the turning point, a new direction in La Vette's journey began that day.

In 2013, after a couple more Tent Cities of volunteering and loving, La Vette became a member of the 1Matters team and earned the coveted Black Hoodie, an honor given only the most dedicated and/or transformed 1Matters volunteers with demonstrated compassion for those we serve. She had discovered these qualities within her. This past Tent City 2014, La Vette presided over the event as the Honorary Mayor of Tent City,  leading the annual walk, speaking, volunteering, and even dancing in a flash mob. The links at the bottom of the page detail some of the press that covered her story. 

SHE IS THE REAL DEAL

She does not accept pity. She could be trying to get on the welfare sytem she certainly qualifies. But all she wants to do is work. She had a job in telemarketing taking surveys where she earned raises for her performance, but the company went out of business.   

La Vette just started a job working in a podiatrist's office (yes, a foot doctor - no joke!). 

What sparked this campaign is the fact to get to his job in Oregon she takes Tarta, and then has to wheel one mile to the job.  Last week the wind chill was in the negatives.  When she got home she called to report her first day and ended the call with, "But I am not a quitter."

And she continues to show up to give and participate in the community, but her efforts are hampered by her limited mobility.  It breaks our heart she cannot attend these opportunities to help others. 

Easy problem, easy solution.  We want to get her a van and make her mobile.

Her next personal goal is going to college, another part of her journey for which she'll need reliable transportation.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

We ask that you join us in celebrating La Vette's compassion, transformation, and contributions to our community by donating to this one-time ask. Your gift will make a powerful woman even more effective in her journey.

Ever meet someone who truly has the requirements to get on disability and welfare but refuses because through sheer personal determination she wants to set an example, that there are NO disabilities, just opportunities ? 

Then you have met LaVette Miller. 

If you support people who prefer to work rather than take, then give to this campaign right now .... and then share this campaign. 

She will hate we are doing this which is exactly why we are doing this. 

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

Mobility Works, a 'national chain of wheelchair accessible van providers', will be providing a large discount on the van and the hand controls.

This GoFundMe project will also help provide La Vette with the required testing and training she would need to drive her van safely.

Any money over the goal she can use for insurance, gas, and as she has shown us, some will be passed on to help others.

That is just how she rolls. (Pun Intended). She truly is the real deal. We hope the media and entire community will support this campaign.

La Vette in the news:
La Vette as Mayor of the 25th Tent City (Toledo Free Press story)
13 ABC Story about Tent City & La Vette

Mobility Works: