Empowering One Family’s Journey: Yvette’s Story
Series: Tzu Chi USA GivingTuesday 2022 Charity ConcertWhen her husband Mario was sentenced to ten years in a correctional facility, new mother Yvette found herself left to fend for herself along with her baby.
After being referred to her local Tzu Chi office, volunteers welcomed her with open arms, and understood the young woman’s great need. Tzu Chi volunteer Meiping Tam recalls their first meeting: “it was very, very cold in November. She and her daughter didn’t have jackets. They were so cold. They came here to get food.”
While she received valuable interim support from Tzu Chi, Mario’s release brought new challenges: “it was really hard for him to find a job,” Yvette recalls; “everything has [gone] up, aside from the gas, the groceries, receiving county assistance was very, very little money definitely not enough for rent.”
Meiping and her fellow volunteers encouraged her to go back to school and earn a degree that could open doors. Even for Mario, they provided funds for him to go further, too: “Tzu Chi gave me a small check and I got my forklift license with that… it’s a big step for me.”
Now, the family is flourishing, and you can help us support other families facing similar yet unique challenges by making a donation at donate.tzuchi.us/hq.
Plus, see more videos like this, originally aired during the Tzu Chi USA GivingTuesday 2022 Charity Concert, at video.tzuchi.us/series/givingtuesday-2022-charity-concert.
Credits
Director: Daniel Ferrara
DP: Anna Tse, Sarah Rattay-Maloney
Editor: Piao Yanxin
MUSIC: “Collecting Memories” by Aija Alsina, “Wrong Time” by Livingrooms
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