ROME, Ga. — Five children and their mother will be moving out of a motel and into a new home this Christmas thanks to some help from a deputy.
In a video posted to the Floyd County Police Department's YouTube page, Corporal Ghee Wilson said he met Anquinice Carey at a Moe's Southwest Grill where she works. He said he went to the restaurant several times a week for lunch.
Wilson, who is president of the Coosa Valley Fraternal Order of Police, learned the family was going through a hard time and wanted to help.
“I offered to help out with our Shop with a Cop program to buy some clothes and toys for the kids for Christmas,” said Wilson.
His kindness didn’t stop there. While helping them shop for Christmas gifts, Wilson found out just how much the family was struggling.
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“I found out they were living at the Relax Inn here in Rome,” said Wilson. “They were all living in one hotel room.”
Carey said the family had been living in the motel for seven months. When she asked her children what they wanted this year, all they wanted was new home.
“All they asked me to get them is a house for Christmas, and we could work on everything else later,” said Carey.
Determined to make the holidays brighter for Carey and her children, Wilson took to social media. He set up a PayPal account so friends and family willing to help could donate.
“People started sharing the statuses I was putting on Facebook. I’ve had people as far as Florida donate,” said Wilson. “I’ve had people donate as small as $2 and as much as $100.”
Wilson said the small donations kept pouring into the account. In all, he said he raised about $1,500 – enough to pay three months’ rent and a deposit for a new apartment for Carey’s family.
Video captured the moment Wilson broke the good news to Carey Tuesday.
She immediately started crying and hugged Wilson.
“Thank you,” said Carey through tears.
At the end of the video, Carey thanks everyone who made it possible for her family to move into a new home.
“I want to say that I do believe in Santa Claus,” said Carey. “Merry Christmas. Thank you so much.”