07/06/2025
You would never believe what happened yesterday at Freedom Fest!
The Roosevelt County Chamber of Commerce was running a 50/50 raffle — and I was also doing my own raffle: a 50/50 and a basket raffle to raise money for my culinary books for next semester. Mine runs through the end of July, so we were both selling tickets at the same time.
A sweet lady came up to my booth and asked if this was where the raffle was. I assumed she meant the chamber’s raffle, so I pointed her in the right direction. She thanked me and walked away — but then she saw the sign for my raffle and came back.
She asked, “Oh, you’re doing a raffle too?”
I said, “Yes, ma’am, I’m raising money for my culinary books for college.”
She asked if I had change for $100, but I told her I didn’t — and she smiled and said, “That’s alright,” and walked off.
A little while later, after she bought tickets from the chamber’s booth, she came back and handed me a $20 bill. I asked how many tickets she’d like, and she said, “None. That’s for you for your books,” and walked away. I was completely shocked.
About 30 minutes later, while I had a few people looking at my booth, she returned — and this time, she handed me a stack of money. She smiled and said, “I had to go get more from my husband,” and gave me a $100 bill.
At first, I thought it was just a $20 and some ones… but when I saw it was $100, I jumped up and gave her a hug — the kind that stays with you. She held me tight and whispered, “You do good in college. We know how much it means to you.”
Her husband added, “We have a daughter your age going to ENMU, and we know how expensive books can be.”
I kept saying, “Are you sure? You don’t know how much this means to me and my family.”
She was wearing an ENMU Mom shirt, which made the moment even sweeter. I didn’t catch their names, but to that incredible couple, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were a true blessing.
There are some amazing people in the world still.
And to their daughter at ENMU — your mom and dad are two of the kindest, most generous people I’ve ever met. 💚