Eloise's
Story
 After
working for Easter Seals for eight
years, Eloise fell sick. She soon personified
the when-it-rain-it-pours syndrome!
A single mother with four of five children
under her roof, Eloise saw her troubles multiply.
The family van needed more repairs than she
could afford. When the air conditioning in
the apartment broke, Eloise’s son’s
asthma forced the family to move. Says Eloise, “I
had no van, no money…nothing.” Her
life had quickly spun out of control, but
she never gave up on herself. Then help arrived.
Impressed by Eloise’s commitment to
her family and sympathetic to her plight, a
social worker and Eloise’s manager at Easter
Seals teamed to recommend her to Wheels
of Success. Plan A was to repair the van
Eloise owned and had left parked at her previous
apartment, but that landlord had salvaged it.
Plan B, a new vehicle, put her on a waiting
list. Keeping the faith, she continued to walk
75 minutes to work. Eloise gratefully recalls, “I
was in constant contact with Wheels of
Success’ staff. They always encouraged
me.”
From there, things began to happen quickly.
WOS walked her through the business of insurance,
tag and a free car care class. The end of the
story is best shared in Eloise’s words: “Behold,
the WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS, I received a 1997
Mercury Mountaineer, and I have been blessed
by it ever since. My kids are SO happy!”
More than joyful, Eloise is thankful and very
anxious to participate in the organization’s pay
it forward program. She already has processed
paperwork in the WOSoffice and worked at an
event. “Just give me what you’ve
got,” promises Eloise, “and if
I can tell anybody what Wheels of Success did
for my family, I will!” |
Wheels
of Success is Tampa Bay's only 501(c)3 nonprofit organization
providing a full range of transportation solutions, including
vehicle replacement; car repair; and licensing, car payment and
down payment assistance to low and moderate income working families.