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Domestic violence survivor gifted new vehicle by Michigan nonprofit
It's been rough for her. She didn’t want to be shown on-camera but says it's been hard rebuilding her life. So getting a new set of wheels is unbelievable.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - A mother of two received the gift of a lifetime on Friday, a vehicle she can call her own. It helps her to build a new life, free of domestic violence.
It's been rough for her, saying it's been hard rebuilding her life. So getting a new set of wheels is unbelievable.
"This is such like a pinch me moment," the mother said. "To receive something like this, I mean, to someone like me, is like you know nobody has ever done anything like this for me ever in life. I’m just so grateful."
This mother of two is in disbelief that this 2015 Chevy Equinox is all hers. Grateful because it’ll help her get back on her feet and live a life free of domestic violence.
She was married for seven years and says it was filled with abuse.
"I’ve been in moments where I had seen my own life flash in front of my eyes," she said. "I had a gun pointed at me, one time in front of my 2-year-old child."
Three years ago, she began pursuing divorce. In May, it was finalized.
"It feels like 50 pounds falling off your shoulders," she said.
She says she felt free, but she had to create a new life for herself. She began training to become a Detroit police officer but had to stop because it was hard to get to the sessions.
She didn’t have a car. Lately, she's been taking an Uber everywhere and is often late getting to work and appointments.
But then she met JoJo Dries, who knows the significance of having a car.
"A vehicle is one of the largest ways that abusers will abuse you and control you because you can’t get anywhere," said Dries.
Dries’ nonprofit ‘On the Wings of Angels’ helps survivors thrive in their new lives. She's a survivor. So they got the woman a vehicle with the help of Chief Financial Credit Union in Rochester. They had one they weren’t using with only 39,000 miles on it.
"It was in great condition," said Cheryl Boodram, the executive vice president at Chief Financial Credit Union. "Jojo had told me a story about a survivor leaving and not having a vehicle and really not having that freedom as a result of not having that vehicle."
Boodram's heart broke for the woman. She too, was a survivor. So she called Dries and told her what was available. Friday, they gave it to her.
"I do want people out there who find themselves in similar situations to know that there is hope and there is amazing people," said the mother. "There are angels on this earth."
The woman is so grateful. She says she'll be able to be more active in her kids' lives and resume training to become an officer.