realCHANGE

Thirteen years ago I met Sabina along the Ship Canal in the Fremont neighborhood. She was penniless and living homeless moment to moment, struggling horribly with her alcohol addiction. Despite all of the hardship and suffering her beauty of person, her kindness, her bigBIG SMILE, was always there, always shining through.

Sabina will tell you that selling the Real Change Street Newspaper saved her life, it was the beginning of real change for her. She's been selling the paper for 12 years, has 6 years of sobriety, andAND, wait for it, 4 years of living inside, wowWOW!!!

In addition to selling the paper, Sabina also handmakes and sells jewelry on a card-table next to her papers. You should check her artwork out! My wife Cyn has a pair of her earrings and loves them!

Tomorrow Sabina takes her Driver License Test. It's a big moment for her, one that will bring more positive change in her life!

We are asking the community to help Sabina continue helping herself by donating funds for a car. This will be a game-changer for her. She has been saving funds but needs help getting a vehicle that won't immediately break down.

You can donate to Sabina's Car Fund on our Venmo account @YouKnowMeNow, or PayPal account @CircleOfTen.

All funds donated will go to help Sabina purchase and care for her new car. As is always the case, no funds go to YKMN.

IF anyone has a car they want to DONATE to Sabina, that would be even more AMAZING. We could then use funds raised for licensing, registration, and any needed maintenance.

One of the many wonderful things about visiting Sabina while she sells her paper and jewelry out front of the Wallingford QFC is the number of folks who walk by and say beautiful things to her, like, "Hey Sabina, good to see you!" or "You look great, Sabina!" or just give a big smile and say, "Hello Sabina!"

It is easy to see and feel, that over the last 12 years Sabina has built a beautiful community around her! A bigBIG LOVE to you Sabina, you deserve it!

Wallingford Neighborhood | Rex