An employee at a Dunkin’ drive-thru was left in tears after a customer surprised her with what she described as a Christmas miracle. The mother of three was filled with gratitude after a customer who she befriended in the drive-thru line, provided her with a roof over her and her family’s head. “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. I wanted to make sure that they had stable housing so that she could continue to provide the excellent service she does.” the customer said.
Speaking to WCPO, the customer, Suzanne Burke, shared the idea came to her right after learning that her beloved friend, Ebony Johnson, had been evicted from her home.
“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,” said Burke explained that also she wanted to do was help the Dunkin’ employee in need. “I wanted to make sure that they had stable housing so that she could continue to provide the excellent service she does at Dunkin.'”
Thus, she recheated out to local organizations and designers. With their assistance she was ultimately able to pull off the surprise where she presented Johnson and her kids with a new, fully-furnished home in Ohio, just in time for the Christmas holidays. “I’m just so thankful we’re back in our home,” expressed Johnson, who is now counting her blessings. “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.”
According to reports, Burke and Johnson’s friendship is three years old and it began in the drive-thru line. “I go every morning,” Burke revealed. “Ebony has worked the drive-thru for three years and really has provided amazing customer service.” But then one morning, she noticed that her favourite host was no longer working her usual shift. This went on for a few weeks and a concerned Burke reached out to make sure things were fine at her end.
This is when she learned that the mother of three had been evicted from her home and tragically had no place to live. Seeing a friend in trouble, Burke jumped in to rescue her by calling New Life Furniture Bank, a gently-used furnishing bank which collects and donates furnitures to those in need, and staging designer Jo Potvin.
Both Potvin and the local organization teamed up to decorate and fully furnish the new hoem for Johnson and her children so they could move-in immediately. The final product of their efforts was unveiled on Friday in front of Johnson and her family, who were left extremely emotional. “Thank y’all so much,” said the mother through tears. “Thank you so much for helping me.”
The moment was also posted on Facebook by the furnityre bank with the caption, “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…”