Dishwasher Has Car Stolen After Months of Saving, So Co-workers Buy Him a New One
If you’ve ever worked in the restaurant business, you know the hard hours and laborious work. For Kea Senegal, it had finally paid off.
A dishwasher at Ruffino’s on the River in Lafayette, Louisiana, Senegal had put in his time and was able to save for a new car for his family, according to WFMY.
But just as he began enjoying his new ride, someone stole it, leaving him without any transportation to get around.
Senegal was in a dire situation and the team at Ruffino’s knew they had to do their part to help their co-worker and friend.
“He had saved up for months to buy a car for his family,” Chris Muffoletto, general manager at Ruffino’s, told WFMY.
“He has a wife and two children – a 4-year-old and a 4-month-old – and when we found out what happened, we didn’t feel like we could let it go.”
Muffoletto and his team of Ruffino’s workers held a meeting to discuss what to do about Senegal’s situation.
Muffoletto, being the kind soul that he was, asked his staff if they had it in them to pitch in and get Senegal a vehicle to replace the one that was stolen.
“Everyone was 100 percent onboard,” Muffoletto told WFMY. “It took three days to raise $2,500. Then, the people at Don’s Wholesale found out what we were doing and matched the funds.
“Their generosity was instrumental in this – they should get as much credit as anyone,” he continued.
Finally, Muffoletto and the team were ready to surprise Senegal. They purchased a 2015 Chevy Malibu and knew it would be the ultimate gift from them to him.
The whole surprise was recorded and the expression and awe on Senegal’s face at the generosity of his co-workers says it all.
“It was very special to see him so surprised,” Muffoletto told WFMY. “Kea has worked here since we opened. He is a very solid employee, well liked and just a great overall guy.
“It was very nice to be able to give back a little, especially during the Christmas season,” he added.
Muffoletto told WFMY that the whole idea started small and just took off when his crew did their part to chip in.
“It’s a great example of the staff and of the entire community,” he told WFMY. “We just got to it, raised money, and made it happen.”
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