Customer finds out Dunkin Donuts cashier and kids were evicted and finds them a new home
Ebony Johnson, a mother of three children, provides excellent customer service at her fast food service job.
But working hard still didn’t stop her from falling on hard times and becoming homeless during the pandemic.
Thankfully, there was a customer that appreciated her service. So much so that she helped find Johnson and her children a fully furnished apartment.
Suzanne Burke met Johnson when she rolled through the drive-thru of where Johnson was working.
The pair became friendly and would chat every morning when Burke would pick up coffee.
Burke goes for coffee every single morning. She’s been doing it for three years and has always been impressed by Johnson’s stellar customer service.
But there was a period where Burke didn’t see Johnson and became worried.
She learned that Burke and her children had been evicted from their home in Mount Healthy, Ohio.
“I wanted to give up,” Johnson said. “I cried. I come to work every day, and nobody knows what I’m going through because I always try to have a smile for our customers.”
Burke slipped Johnson a note asking her if she wanted help, promising that she would do her best to get her help if she did.
Johnson accepted, and Burke got to work utilizing her career in social services to see where she could find help.
So, Burke reached out to several organizations and was able to get assistance for Johnson and her family to find an apartment.
They also filled that home with furniture.
“I just wanted to see if I could help her just improve her life and the life for her kids,” Burke said. “I wanted to make sure that they had stable housing, so that she could continue to provide the excellent service she does at Dunkin’.”
It took nine months, but Johson was finally able to move into a home on Dec. 3. Johnson was in tears when she was welcomed into her new home.
She said it was the first time she had ever received such impactful help.
Her children also couldn’t have been happier to be in their new “beautiful” home. Johnson said it was a prayer that came true.
“I’m just so thankful we’re back in our home,” Johnson said. “The Lord really looked out for me because I kept praying and saying, ‘Could I be at home before Christmas?’”
Burke said she was also shedding tears of happiness to see this family whole again.
Burke said she couldn’t imagine what it was like to have three children and not have a home to go to while still having to get those kids ready for school every day.
And then head off to work with a positive attitude.
Burke said that she is truly in “awe” of Burke. Johnson had not had permanent housing for a total of 21 months. They jumped around from living with different family members in one crowded space to another.
Johnson said it’s her children that keep her going. Burke was able to secure housing for Johnson through Strategies to End Homelessness.
Johnson said the lack of affordable housing and Johnson’s personal situation made it difficult for her to get an apartment through a shelter diversion program.
While COVID funding was aimed at helping to prevent people from being evicted, Johnson had already become evicted before the funding came through. They also became ineligible for assistance because they were staying with family.
“The need is great, and unfortunately, we’re still not coming close to helping everyone who’s in that situation,” Kevin Finn, president and CEO of Strategies to End Homelessness, said. “There are six Ebony Johnsons who don’t get assistance for everyone who does.”
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