Help Paula Replace Her Stolen Tools

Many blessings to the beautiful being taking out the time to read this. Thank you.

As we approach the season of giving, I want to share a story that touched my heart and ask for your help in blessing someone who has gone above and beyond for my family.

It started on Thanksgiving. My family had been without a car for weeks, and as a birth worker, being without transportation makes it difficult to serve the families in our community. After reaching out to several mechanics and running into roadblock after roadblock, I prayed for a solution. That’s when God sent us Paula.

Paula isn’t your average mechanic. She’s a fierce, determined, and compassionate Black woman who recently graduated from Diesel Mechanic School. Despite her policy of not working in freezing temperatures or after 6 p.m., Paula made an exception for us. She understood how important having a car is for my work and my family, so on a blistering 37-degree evening, she came to our home.

Wrapped in layers against the cold, Paula worked tirelessly in the dark to diagnose and fix our car. When she discovered a few more parts were needed, she left to purchase them and returned quickly to finish the job. It was during this time that tragedy struck.

Paula had placed her toolbox—one her most valuable possession—on the side of the car while she worked. Upon her return, she realized it was gone. Someone had stolen it. This wasn’t just any toolbox; it was a symbol of her perseverance and dreams. After losing her mother in 2020, her father in 2021, and her eldest son in 2022, Paula endured unimaginable loss but still pushed forward. She graduated from Diesel Mechanic School and began rebuilding her life. That toolbox represented all the sacrifices she made to achieve her goals.

Despite the heartbreak of losing her tools, Paula refused to let us down. She found a way to complete the repairs, and by the end of the night, our car was running again.

But her story doesn’t end there. Paula is also a mother who knows the power of community and faith. As we worked together, she shared that she had a successful home birth five years ago, a connection that brought us even closer as two Black women dedicated to serving others. Paula’s faith in God and her unwavering determination to help others, even in her own time of need, left me in awe.

Now, I want to return the favor. Paula’s tools were stolen right before Christmas, and replacing them won’t be easy. When she purchased them during school, they were offered at a significant discount—a discount she won’t have access to anymore. These tools are essential for her work, her livelihood, and her dreams.

I’m asking our community to come together to help Paula replace what was stolen. Let’s show her the same compassion and generosity she showed us that freezing night. No donation is too small, and every contribution will go directly toward helping Paula rebuild her toolbox and her dreams.

If you feel moved by Paula’s story, please consider giving. Let’s remind her that even in the darkest times, there is light, love, and community. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you for your kindness and support.