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This is a bounce back story of a single mom of two young boys. I survived domestic abuse and had to start all over with nothing. No home. No car. No money. All I had was faith in God and a new job at Fritz’s Adventure.
My life has changed immensely since starting at Fritz’s in February 2021. The amazing team members have helped carry me forward out of a dark place. I’m able to stand on my own two feet again, and I can’t thank the Fritz’s team and God enough for all the love given to me. Simply put, my teammates helped me get back to being me again.
Before I started at Fritz’s, I prayed for God to show me where I needed to be. As it related to the relationship I was in, I asked God, “Is this the man and life You have for me? Do You have better plans for me and my kids?” I asked God to close the doors He wanted closed and to open the doors He wanted open. And He did!
I needed money to support my kids, so I began applying for jobs on Indeed. That’s when I noticed Fritz’s Adventure was hiring. Fritz’s was within walking distance from my home, so my fiancé couldn’t complain about me wasting gas money. I applied and was contacted for an interview. A couple of interviews later, I had a new job at Fritz’s. Door opened!
A couple of weeks after starting at Fritz’s, my fiancé became violently drunk and kicked my kids and I out. This had happened more times than I care to admit. Each time he would sober up, be sorry, and beg me to come back. He always promised to change. Like a fool, I’d go back. This had to stop. I thought to myself, “What kind of example am I setting for my boys?” This wasn’t the life I wanted for them, fearing for the safety of their mother. It was time to leave for good. This was God telling me, “Door closed.”
I didn’t know what to do. I was embarrassed and ashamed. How could I have put my kids through this? Now I was homeless with my two boys, no home, no car, no money, and only the clothes on our backs.
I called my ex-husband’s parents. They came to get us and took us back to their house. I’d run to them so many times over the previous year. I thought they were done helping, but they’ll do anything for their grandkids. They offered to take care of the boys until I could get a place of my own. I could stay a couple of nights, but I couldn’t live there.
I called the Women’s Crisis Center, a homeless shelter for abused women. They have small cottages for women and their kids that have nowhere safe to go. The cottages are free, so they are almost always full. I’d tried to get in a few times over that past year with no success. I prayed to God again to tell me where He wanted me. The lady at the Crisis Center said a cottage had just become available and that she would hold it for me. My ex-in-laws took me right after dinner. Door opened!
The Women’s Crisis Center not only gave me a place to stay, but they drove me to and from work so I could keep my job at Fritz’s. The first time a representative from the Crisis Center took me to work, I was a few minutes late. I wasn’t about to say anything. I was grateful for the ride. I was ashamed and embarrassed, and I really didn’t want anyone to know about my situation. I knew I needed to let a few of the managers know what I was dealing with so they could understand why I was late.
Gaby, the assistant general manager, was incredible. She told me not to worry about anything and that Fritz’s had my back. She offered to put me up in a nearby hotel so I could save money for a place of my own. Gaby made me cry when she said she wanted to give me money or take me shopping for some new black pants because all I had was the one pair I was wearing when my former fiancé had kicked us out. Her response was full of love and understanding, not pity. Gaby knew my situation all too well.
I spoke with management to let them know that there had been a huge change in my reason for wanting to work at Fritz’s. When I took the job, I really didn’t need to work much because my former fiancé paid the bills. I was only working for extra spending money to help my sons, ages 14 and 5, without having to ask for money every time.
But that had all changed. There was no fiancé now. It was just me and my kids and I needed to work as much as I could to get us a home and a car and back on our feet without having to rely on anyone else. Two members of management, Travis and Eric, were on it. They immediately moved me to full time and shortly after I earned a raise. Door open wider!
On weekends, the Center couldn’t provide rides to and from work. That’s when I felt the love that Fritz’s team members have for one another. They went out of their way to get me to work and back. I remember one instance when one of my team leads, Claudio, called me an Uber. Claudio’s car was in the shop, so he paid to have an Uber take me home. That was the first time I’d ever used Uber. The driver told me that whoever did this for me really cared because this ride wasn’t cheap. Everyone that helped me did so out of love and grace. No one ever looked down on me for the spot I was in.
My situation fueled me, and I knew God was on my side. I felt unstoppable. I was going to be a good example to my kids. I wouldn’t give up. I’d work hard. I’d trust in God. I wouldn’t let my circumstances control me.
I applied for places to rent and looked for a car while saving money. I took advantage of every opportunity. I worked hard at Fritz’s, especially during Spring Break. Fritz’s Adventure was the place to be in March and we stayed busy. Overtime was there for the taking, and I didn’t flinch! This was my first full month at Fritz’s, and I was awarded Team Member of the Month while making good money. Door opened!
In mid-April I was approved for my own three bedroom, two bath apartment. Thanks to God, the Crisis Center, and my amazing new job at Fritz’s Adventure, I’d saved enough money for the deposit and three month’s rent. The new apartment wouldn’t be ready until May 19, but I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Door opened!
My former fiancé let us get most of our things out of his house. Again, he begged me to come home. When I said no, he hit my elbow with a glass of whiskey. I knew I’d made the right decision to leave. He’d never change. Door closed for good!
I felt God working in my life. He’d opened and closed so many doors. There was absolutely no way to deny this was God’s will for my life. This was only the beginning of the good life that He had for me and my boys. I was happy and so were the boys. I loved my job. It didn’t seem like work. It was fun, exciting, and healthy for me. I’d been so focused on working, making money, and trying to find a home and a car that I hadn’t realized I was exercising every day. I was losing weight. Yay! I spent some money on clothes that fit me – smaller clothes. I’d lost 20 pounds.
I still didn’t have a car or a bed or much else but I continued to tell everyone God was going to provide. A couple of days before I was supposed to move into the apartment, the ladies at the Crisis Center called me to the office. They told me someone had donated a new queen size mattress and asked if I wanted it. Well, yes!
Then they asked me what I was going to do about a car. How was I going to work from the new apartment? I told them I didn’t really know yet, but God would provide. They said, “Yes He is! The day we dropped you off at work, the same day you prayed with the girls for God to bring you a vehicle, that day a lady donated a car to the Center. We all just knew that car was a gift from God and was meant for you. Who are we to stand in the way of a gift from God? That Chrysler 200 outside your cottage is yours! Now you have a home and a car to get to work!” Car door opened!
May 19 was move-in day. My co-workers asked if there was anything I needed for the apartment. They offered furniture and dishes. My teammate, Jessica, gave my kids a TV/DVD player for their room (Thank you so much Jessica. They love you to this day.). And a big thank you to the Fritzers who carried that queen size mattress up to my second-floor apartment.
As of February 2022, I’ve been working at Fritz’s Adventure for one year. I’m blessed to say I’m back on my feet and doing great. The kids are happy, and they have a great relationship with their dad. Oh, and I’m still happily single and almost 70 pounds lighter!
“This is My Story” by Charese Chandler
