MIAMI — An unlikely friendship between a woman struggling with homelessness and two Miami-Dade Law enforcement Office staff is proving how the minimal things can make a huge variation.
Miami-Dade Police dispatcher Nicole Sears loves to offer a encouraging hand. So, when neighborhood source officer Leonard Cantave requested for a favor she jumped at the opportunity.
“Officer Contave reached out to me and requested if I would support him make some kind of way to obtain resources for her,” she explained.
It all began just times earlier, the working day immediately after Xmas.
“I experienced a issue with my motor vehicle and my battery,” Maria Isabel Garcia claimed.
“You know it really is the holiday seasons. She’s by itself. No gas for her vehicle. That was very sad, and I’m blessed plenty of to support her out,” stated Cantave.
When he stopped to support, Cantave understood Garcia necessary much more than just a leap. She necessary a fresh new start out.
“She really considerably was homeless. So, I took her to the gas station, stuffed up her tank for her, and went to the mechanic shop and spoke to the owner and they gave her a brand name-new battery for her car or truck,” Cantave reported.
“He requested me what transpired, what happened to you? You dwell right here? Why? And I defined to him I don’t have a task at this moment,” Garcia reported.
Garcia experienced fallen on difficult situations during the pandemic.
She lost her position as a safety guard — then her license expired. And with out the resources to shell out to renew it — she was caught and has been ever considering the fact that. By yourself — and living out of her van.
“I don’t have anyone. I really don’t have relatives I do not have close friends. I will not have a partner. I you should not have anyone” Garcia reported. “I cried so quite a few times inside of this car or truck. On your own. But no one saw me”.
So, Sears and Cantave put their heads collectively — and inside of a thirty day period, elevated ample revenue to renew Garcia’s car insurance and registration, renew her stability license so she could operate, and also give her some gasoline money.
These small actions — ample to get Garcia again out there and doing the job once again.
And so, with the help of these two MDPD staff members — Garcia is obtaining a prospect at a refreshing commence. She is performing once again as a safety guard, is applying for housing — and they say this is just the beginning.
“I just begun it and I want to finish it. Make certain she receives a residence, hopefully, she will get a far better automobile, and then the moment that is finished I imagine my task is completed, then onto the subsequent challenge” reported Cantave.
That sentiment — and that opportunity come across — is why Maria states she will eternally be grateful.
“So, I enjoy you, I love him, I like him so a great deal mainly because he is a great particular person. He is a good person. He is an angel. He’s my angel,” Garcia stated.
And this actually is just the commencing. Sears and Cantave were so impressed by how they have been in a position to assist Garcia they begun a non-profit to assist many others like her: Blue Hearts of South Florida.
