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"I was 13 and homeless. I know what it's like to have nothing. I had a rough life," Jessica Ramirez tells Robin Schwartz of Fox 2.
The Southwest Detroiter is explaining why she and Michelle Colon-Coles collect clothes, household items and now holiday gifts under the name "Detroiters Helping Each Other." They appeal for donations at a website and two-month-old Facebook page.
The two women have been collecting donations for families, like one in Hamtramck who lost everything in a house fire. They also have gift baskets for seniors at a group home and a small mountain of toys for children who would otherwise go without gifts for Christmas.
Jessica Ramirez: "if I can help somebody else put a smile on their face, that's what it's all about."
The two mothers "met by chance while Jessica was helping a family in need and reached out to anyone who was willing to help," their site explains. "Michelle reached back by offering to help. Since then, their friendship has grown and now it has become a partnership."
The pair of volunteers set up a small foot pantry and "clothing pantry" on Spingwells Street "because we love our community and believe it truly does take a village to raise a child," they say online. "Our first endeavor as a group was Thanksgiving Baskets for families in need. Everything was collected strictly through donations and . . . we were able to help over 20 families."
On Sunday afternoon, families are invited to a "Santa's Secret Angels" toy giveaway. Accompanying adults can pick out one clothing item.
"I've been though my ups and downs," Ramirez tells the Fox reporter, "and if I can help somebody else put a smile on their face, that's what it's all about."
"We are still taking in donations," she posts Saturday at Facebook, requesting calls from donors at (313) 704-5392 or emails at Detroitershelping.eachother@yahoo.com.
