This is Jen's story.
Location: Olmstead, OH
"My name is Brittany and this is the short story of Jen, an employee of mine.
Jen is a 42 year old single mother of 5.
3 of her children and 2 of their significant others live with her in her 2 bedroom apartment. She is a giver, a nurturer, and has the kindest heart. She doesn’t say no. She met a guy, fell in love and and quickly found herself supporting him as well. After she helped him financially and put herself out for her children and this man, he left her.
High and dry. With nothing left but a broken heart.
Her apartment wasn’t in good living conditions so she and her family moved to another 2 bedroom apartment in Lorain, Ohio, near Cleveland.
It’s in a bad area and her safety is a huge concern of mine.
She has hardly any furniture.
It’s cold and doesn’t feel like a home. But it’s home to Jen.
She comes to work often with a grocery bag with a fork and some kind of canned noodles from the dollar store. I know she can’t afford much else so I’ll get take out for her and I, knowing she she isn’t able to splurge like that.
She is always so happy and grateful.
She gets government assistance but it’s not enough because of the house hold size she’s taking care of. Often times she will work 8 hour days and doesn't eat. Not because she’s not hungry, but because she can’t afford to.
Before I became her boss, she got moved to a permanent work location that is an additional 30 min to work one way with $1 raise. I’m trying to get that reversed as she’s losing money.
Her clothes are old and worn, as are her children’s. She wears makeup from family dollar that sometimes makes her face breakout but it’s all she can afford.
I wish she knew, she’s beautiful without it and doesn’t need it at all. Her beauty shines so bright to others, even strangers.
She had an old vehicle and the transmission went out. She was able to scrap that and get a used truck, soon to find out that the alternator was bad. She was taking Lyfts to work (roughly $20 one way) and during a trip to work, she and the Lyft driver were talking about her truck. He offered to lend her a hand. 3 weeks later her truck is working due to the kindness of this strangers heart.
He went to a local scrap yard called Pull a Part , found her an alternator and installed it for her.
Nov 27th was the first day she was able to have her own transportation to get to and from work. Shortly before her shift was over, she had to leave early because her daughter was in a minor car accident.
We spoke about how God is so good and put that man in her path to help her get her vehicle up and running so she was able to run and aid to her daughter.
Shortly after 11 PM, I received a text message from Jen stating that that same daughter being at the wrong place at the wrong time, was shot twice in the neck.
In less than eight hours she has already had two surgeries trying to remove swelling from the brain. I am so worried for Jen and her daughter, I know she is worrying about work and I have instructed her to let me handle it. That’s just the type of person Jen is. Worrying about everything. Even when attention should be on her and her family.
I want to help her out.. I want to give back. I want others that know or have Jen’s in their life, to recognize the sacrifice of being a single mom struggling with so many children, that just want life to cut them a break."
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WAYS TO HELP:
You can purchase directly from Jen's Wish List for her and her children and items will be shipped to Brittany while Jen is in the hospital with her daughter.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP:
You can send monetary donations HERE.
This will go to basic necessities for Jen and her kids.
If you would like to send a letter of encouragement, please email me at JBHolidayPIF@gmail.com with the subject line JEN1219.
Thank you for paying it forward.
