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My school-run minibus: Elena's only way to earn a living

Elena drives for a living in Southampton, and a broken engine head gasket has stopped all income for 6 weeks.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom2,100 views
Elena Gregory
Email verified
Southampton
I make my living with my school-run minibus. 6 weeks ago the engine head gasket failed, and the mechanic says the repair will cost $1,050. Without the vehicle I earn nothing. I have been borrowing from friends to pay rent, and now I have run out of people to ask. I support my younger brothers and sisters. Before the breakdown I worked ten hours a day, six days a week. I have been offered extra shifts for the next six months if I can just get the vehicle working. I have a written estimate from a certified mechanic and will upload it here. I'll pay the mechanic directly and show you the repaired vehicle in an update. Where the $1,050 goes: • engine head gasket replacement (parts): $660 • Labor charges: $200 • Road tax and insurance renewal: $140 • Towing and inspection: $50 You're what makes this possible, and I'll never forget it. - Elena
#livelihood#repair#driver#employment

Updates from Elena

  1. Good news. Because of your gifts ($927 in total) we've started the first stage. Still a way to go but it feels less lonely.

  2. Update from Southampton: the first invoice got paid this week. We're at 66% of the goal. Thank you for believing in us.

  3. Wanted to say thank you properly. 32% funded and I made the first payment toward engine head gasket replacement.

Donations

RecentTop gifts
  • Emily Cole 🇦🇺 · $10
  • Aiden Barnes 🇺🇸 · $75
  • Julian A. Stanley 🇺🇸 · $25
  • Hadi Mansour 🇸🇦 · $25

    “You got this. Thought of Elena all day after reading this. - Jeddah”

  • Josefa T. Escobar 🇲🇽 · $20

    “Thought of Elena all day after reading this. - Tijuana”

  • Devi W. Kamath 🇮🇳 · $15
  • Ngozi Joy Kalu 🇳🇬 · $25

    “Hope this helps. Only $25 but hope it helps. - Badagry”

  • Anonymous 🇰🇷 · $30
  • Monique Lambert 🇫🇷 · $100
  • Kayode Kunle Ibrahim 🇳🇬 · $14
  • Nandini R. Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 · $25
  • Lorenzo Aldo Riva 🇮🇹 · $5
  • Charles P. Yates 🇺🇸 · $36

    “From my family to yours. Only $36 but hope it helps. - Anaheim”

  • Souad Ghada Hamid 🇪🇬 · $20

    “Get well soon. Only $20 but hope it helps. - Luxor”

  • Anand B. Bisht 🇮🇳 · $10
  • Vishnu A. Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 · $32
  • Anonymous 🇬🇧 · $50
  • Luca Piras 🇮🇹 · $25

    “Rooting for you. I'm in Salerno, thinking of you.”

  • Craig R. Stanley 🇺🇸 · $10
  • Mikhail Artem Kuzmin 🇺🇦 · $25

    “Thought of Elena all day after reading this. - Odesa”

Reviews

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Questions & comments

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  • Nhân Tran

    Wishing you peace. Hope you get there. Don't lose heart. A few weeks ago I was in a hole too and it changed faster than I expected.

    • Jackson Patterson

      Take care. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes. I went through something like this 4 years ago and strangers helped me out.

      • Cristian F. CortésPhoto verified

        sending good thoughts, Elena. Hope the shop reopens soon. Thinking of Southampton.

        • Odhiambo Rashidi

          Shared it with a few friends. Thinking of Southampton.

          • Jocelyn R. Cruz

            Sending love, Elena. I hope things turn around soon. Thinking of Southampton.

            • Zahid Rakib Haque

              stay strong, Elena. Reading this made my day a bit heavier but I'm glad I did. God bless.

              • Princess H. Ramos

                stay strong, Elena. Shared this with my family. My daughter saw me on my phone and now she wants to give her pocket money. All the best

                • Charlotte Alice Lopez

                  Sending strength, Elena. Gave what I could, wish it was more. Put this on a community board in San Jose this morning.

                  • Renato Gabriel Borges

                    Thanks for sharing this, Elena. Everyone deserves a bit of help sometimes.

                    • Bola Comfort Jimoh

                      Sending love, Elena. I've been in a tough spot myself and it does get easier. After 26 years in construction I know how hard it's to ask for anything. Thinking of Southampton.

                      • Sameer K. Deshmukh

                        Wishing you peace, Elena. This could happen to any of us. God bless.

                        • Ryan Dela Cruz

                          Hope this works out for you. My neighbor in Rawalpindi donated after I showed her your page.

                          $1,332 raised of $1,050

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