Generosity is springboard to a new home for Springs family

A generous moment of 12-year-old Mykaela Garrett’s life has proven to be the turning point that could see her family overcome homelessness and poverty.

The week before Christmas, Andrea Garrett took Mykaela to the 29th Annual Bob Telmosse Giveaway to pick out Christmas presents and a much-needed winter coat. Mykaela also won the coveted bike raffle, but feeling satisfied with her wolf stuffed animal, she gave the bike to another child. She thought the other kid needed it more.

After an article in The Gazette about Mykaela’s act, the Colorado Springs community decided the good deed should be reciprocated. And then some.

After motel hopping for months, and living in a relative’s basement, the homeless Garretts were propelled from having few prospects to having almost too many.

On Sunday the family of three —Andrea, her mother Diane, and Mykaela — moved into their own apartment with six months free rent provided by Griffis/Blessing Inc. Andrea, who lost her job in May and had been living on unemployment, begins work at the Affiliated ComputerServices call center in Colorado Springs on Jan. 17, she said on Saturday.

“I’m just waiting for all the paperwork. So I’m pretty excited,” she said.

Tom Zurenko, a member of the board of directors of the Bob Telmosse Foundation, has helped manage the constant influx of donations and offers to the Garrett family. Nearly three weeks after the giveaway, the family has been sent over $2,000 of donations and gift cards, Zurenko said. Mykaela, was sleeping on the floor of the basement, now has a twin-bed with bedding.
Zurenko and a team of three helped the Garretts move their few belongings into a two-bedroom apartment on Sunday.

The security of a home has allowed Mykaela to a register at Sabin Middle School, said her grandmother Diane Garrett.

The “clean and beautiful” apartment is just what the family needs to tide them over, Diane added. They hope to be able to buy their own mobile home by the time their six month lease is up.

The days before the move were spent dealing with family matters, organizing their belongings, and getting Andrea and Mykaela set to start work and school.

“Then we move into our place,” Andrea said on Saturday.

It’s the first time in months that they’ve had a place to call their own.

Read more about homeless families in Colorado Springs.

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