An employee at a Dunkin’ Donuts named Ebony Johnson was gifted a special gift from regular customer Suzanne Barker when she fell on hard times: a fully-furnished home.
After learning that her dear friend and Dunkin’ employee Johnson, had recently been evicted from her Mount Healthy home, Burke knew she had to do something to help ahead of the holiday season.
“When she experienced this hardship, I just wanted to see if I could help her just improve her life and the life for her kids,” Burke explained to the outlet.
“I wanted to make sure that they had stable housing so that she could continue to provide the excellent service she does at Dunkin’.”
“I’m just so thankful we’re back in our home,” Johnson told WCPO. “The Lord really looked out for me because I kept praying and saying, ‘Could I be at home before Christmas?’ “
“Oh my god, I’m so happy,” she added. Burke and Johnson’s friendship first began three years ago in the Dunkin’ drive-thru line.
“I go every morning,” Burke told the outlet. “Ebony has worked the drive-thru for three years and really has provided amazing customer service.”
After realizing that Johnson was not working her usual shift for the past few weeks, she reached out to ask if she was okay. She then learned that the mom of three had been evicted from her Mount Healthy home and had nowhere to live.
Burke went on to say that she wanted to do something to help, so she called on New Life Furniture Bank, a gently-used furnishing bank for those in need, and staging designer Jo Potvin of Design to Market, per WCPO.
Potvin as well as the local organization worked together to fully furnish and decorate the new home for Johnson and her kids so that it was move-in ready. This past Friday, the big reveal was shown to Johnson and her family, and let’s just say, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
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“Thank y’all so much,” Johnson said through tears. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
“[It’s the] perfect time of the year to feel like you’re spreading joy,” Potvin shared.
The furniture bank wished the Dunkin employee well in a post to Facebook Saturday, writing: “We’re so pleased to partner with Jo Potvin and her talented design team at Design to Market Home Staging to make Ebony’s family feel LOVED during the holiday season.”
“Ebony, a hardworking mom and beloved Dunkin’ employee… found herself homeless,” they continued. “A group of caring people in our community worked together to make sure Ebony and her kids are living in a warm and comfortable home -just in time for Christmas.”
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