My husband and I were laid off because of the coronavirus. Generous strangers stepped in to help.
"I get goosebumps now even talking about it," said Worcester banquet server Kim Raya.
Related Links
Coronavirus is affecting everyday life — even for those who have not been infected. We are sharing stories of its impact on local people. To share your own, please submit this form or email us at [email protected].
This story was told by Kim Raya, and has been transcribed and edited from a recent conversation with Madelaine Millar.
I am a banquet server and suite attendant at the DCU Center in Worcester. March 10 was my last shift I worked. I had a busy weekend coming up with lots of events going on at the DCU center. Little by little, they were like “Oh, this shift is canceled” or “this group backed out” and by that weekend, it was just like boom, we’re closed until further notice. It all just kind of happened at once.
I worked more than anyone else in the banquet department, so I went to my boss privately and I was like, ‘What can I do? Can I have my sick time? Can I have my vacation time? And he was pretty much like, ‘Nope, all you can do is collect unemployment.’ So that’s what I did.
I was lucky because I was familiar with the process of applying for unemployment from a job 10-plus years ago, but it was horrendous. I was FaceTiming with my co-workers, having to walk them through the process. It was scary not knowing if I did it correctly. It’s now six weeks later and I’ve just begun to see some of my $213 a week.
My husband was a chef at two different restaurants, so he was laid off, too. Due to his immigration status, he’s not able to collect unemployment, and we’re not eligible for the stimulus check either. We have two daughters — ages 12 and seven — so I was thinking about how I’m going to put a roof over my kids’ heads. We didn’t know at the time that you couldn’t be evicted if you couldn’t pay rent.
My boss recommended applying to the Greg Hill Foundation’s Restaurant Strong Fund, so I applied on March 23, and on March 30 I opened my mailbox and there was an envelope with a check inside made out to me for $1,000. There’s no words to describe the way I felt at that moment — I get goosebumps now even talking about it. That’s how we’ve survived for the last month.
I’ve never had luck that goes well, but I always try to be a good person. When we got this check, my 12-year-old daughter told me, ‘See mommy? That’s what happens, because you’re so good to other people.’
Later, I received a call from someone at Martignetti Companies, because they had made a donation to the Greg Hill Foundation and wanted to learn more about the people it was going to help. She wanted to talk to someone to add a personal perspective to it. After a 10-minute conversation she felt a connection, and she and the company began a GoFundMe for me and my family. They raised almost $6,000 for us in less than a week. I can’t believe there’s real people, real angels, that don’t even know me, but based on two or three paragraphs about me and my family, they want to help. The words ‘thank you’ seem so lame in comparison.
I’ve been knocked on my ass quite a few times — we all have. It’s just amazing that complete strangers have decided that we’re special, and have decided to help us out. It really is going to change my family’s life.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com