Financial Assistance Made Gisela's Treatment Possible
When a GK staff member spoke at a Willy’s general manager meeting in January 2019 to let them know how we can help food service workers like their staff across Georgia, Human Resources Manager Nikoll Castano immediately thought of Gisela Cruz-Fernandez, a prep cook in Atlanta.
Willy’s Mexicana Grill is the first and only place Gisela has ever worked, and she’s been there for over 20 years. Needless to say, she’s a member of their family and feels very at home there.
As a prep cook, Gisela’s hands are vital to her job, so when her carpel tunnel syndrome became more and more painful, it affected the hours she was able to work. And during the shifts she could work, she couldn’t keep up as well and often had to ask for help from her co-workers.
Treatment was available to Gisela, but it meant she would have to receive injections and rest for one month for it to be effective, which wasn’t financially an option for her and her family.
Gisela’s husband has diabetes, kidney stones and pain in his extremities, and their only daughter has special needs. Her family depends on her steady income to make ends meet, so she was caught in a Catch 22 – she couldn’t afford to take time off work for a month, but she wouldn’t be able to continue working full-time without these treatments.
“The truth is that it would have been hard. Very hard. But thanks to God and to Giving Kitchen, I received a lot of help and great support.”
As a Spanish speaker, there’s often a language barrier between Gisela and her coworkers, but Nikoll is bilingual and was able to talk to Gisela about asking for help from Giving Kitchen. She went to doctor’s appointments with Gisela and acted as an interpreter with her GK case managers Andre and Leah to make the application process as easy as possible.
In March 2019, Gisela received financial assistance to cover two months of mortgage payments and one month of power and water bills.
“I had a very good experience with Giving Kitchen. I’m fairly well thanks to being able to rest.”
Giving Kitchen was there for Gisela when she needed us most, and GK will be here for other food service workers like her in the future. Support them by giving to Giving Kitchen today.