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Chesapeake community comes together to save struggling single mom from eviction

Posted at 7:51 PM, Mar 03, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-03 23:32:09-05

CHESAPEAKE, Va. - Jennifer Williams says she was going to be evicted from her apartment if the group Western Branch Philanthropy hadn't come together to help her make rent.

Williams, a single Portsmouth mother who is hearing impaired and has multiple sclerosis, has been living paycheck to paycheck since leaving an abusive relationship two years ago.

She says she was robbed at gunpoint outside a Portsmouth bank in November, which set her back in rent.

"I couldn`t get caught up," said Williams. "When you`re $3000 (behind), a single mom, working two part-time jobs there`s just no way to do it."

Facing eviction March 9 she contacted Karen Pinegar of Chesapeake, who runs a Facebook group called Western Branch Philanthropy.

Western Branch Philanthropy helps people in need either with everything from money problems to furnishing their home to providing food.

Pinegar posted to her page and says she was able to raise $1,300 in 24 hours. The group also donated gifts for Williams' daughter who celebrated a birthday this week.

“I checked everything out, saw that she had a police report and had been robbed and asked the community," she said. "We were able to pay what she was behind and keep her from an eviction.”

Williams says she's hoping to pay it forward. She wants to continue to make it on her own for her kids and other single moms who are struggling.

“When I get back on my feet I want to be able to help the next person," she said. "Without disability, with disability...have God in your life and you can do anything. It`s a miracle."