Widowed Single Mom Works as Traffic Officer to Make Ends Meet - She Receives $50K Donation from Stranger

A woman from Detroit, Michigan, was a recently single mother who worked hard to earn a living but went social media viral when she became a beneficiary via a generous donor. The same person also surprised her with tickets to a game.

Zachery Dereniowski, who goes by the name MDMotivator on social media, wanted to do something special for a local Detroit, Michigan, traffic controller officer, Linita Edge. So on Mother's Day in 2023, he went out of his way to honor her.

Edge had recently become a single mother after losing her husband and was left to be the sole breadwinner of her family. Becoming a single parent meant she struggled to make ends meet without a second income.

However, being a traffic controller was a job she did with joy because she loved helping people. The woman had been working in her post for six to seven years, and when asked why she did it, she said:

"I do it for the people."

Edge's generosity and heart were paid back tenfold when Dereniowski, a stranger, approached her one day during her shift and started recording her. She was left shocked when the TikToker presented her with a special gift.

How Linita Ended Up Going to a Detroit Tigers Game?

On May 14, 2023, Dereniowski shared a TikTok video of him recording Edge while on duty directing traffic. Instead of sending him away, she obliged by giving him an interview when he asked her if she wished to buy a mystery jersey for $1.

With glee and joy, the traffic officer showed how much she loved people when she promised to buy the jersey after her shift. Edge continued directing traffic while explaining how long she'd been doing her job, and it was clear to the TikToker that she loved it.

The woman proudly revealed she was born and raised in Detroit, and when asked if she was a Tigers fan, her reply was, "Of course!" Dereniowski then asked her when she knocked off, and she said around 10 or 11 p.m.

In between directing the cars, Edge happily and warmly wished women a Happy Mother's Day, hoping they had a great day, and that they enjoyed their evening. When asked what the chances were for her leaving work early that night, the parent said it was "close to none."

Dereniowski wasn't taking no for an answer and went over to speak to her lieutenant and got her off between seven and nine! The traffic controller was thrilled when she heard the news, and the first big surprise came when the TikToker told her they were going to the Tigers game immediately!

He handed her $500 notes, and she couldn't help but cry when he told her it was Mother's Day weekend and he wanted to celebrate a mother. Edge revealed that she'd just told her son they'd have to gather some funds together, but she hated taking money from her children.

By May 31, 2023, the $50,000 goal had been passed...

The woman shared how she leaned on her faith, telling her children they had to pray. Her benefactor revealed that Edge said to him that she'd never had time for herself since December 2022, when she was able to relax, adding:

"This, to me, means more than you know. Thank you."

The video concluded with the working mother enjoying herself and smiling while at the Tigers game, for which Dereniowski had bought tickets. Still, the surprises and the adventure were far from over!

How Linita Became Thousands of Dollars Richer over Mother's Day?

Dereniowski shared a follow-up video showing how he gave Edge a dollar to open a mystery envelope during a second visit while she was directing traffic. In the letter, he told her she had to leave work and go with him because he had another surprise for her.

After she confirmed that she had permission to leave, he asked what the traffic officer's dream was for her children; she said it was to excel instead of her having the fanciest car or a house on a hill. All Edge selflessly wanted for them was to work hard, stay focused, and make it in the world.

Upon arrival at the Tigers game on May 16, 2023, the woman was surprised to see the TikToker's clip of her playing on the big screen. She was taken to the stadium field, where she listened as it was announced that she was getting an additional $50,000!

This time, Edge was overwhelmed with joy as she fell on her knees, spread her hands in prayer, and repeatedly thanked God for the blessing. Her check was brought over to her by her son and the Detroit Tigers catcher, Jake Rogers, as she cried happily and embraced him.

Dereniowski had secretly created a GoFundMe account on Mother's Day for Edge to help fund rental payments and food and to assist her sons with their schooling. Within days, Detroit residents (and others) had accumulated the funds for her.

By May 31, 2023, the $50,000 goal had been passed, with people donating $63,210! Days after the account was created, people were still making donations of between $5 and $100, with many choosing to leave touching messages to Edge, like one person who wrote:

"Blessings to a beautiful hard, working Queen that help (sic) make Detroit the best city!"

After everything was done, the kind-hearted man explained in an interview how the whole experience had been beautiful and like a movie. Dereniowski said he felt blessed to witness the love Edge got and shared how he had done all of that to show people who Edge was as a person.

He credited the people who came together online to make it happen. The single parent felt God used wonderful people daily as she hadn't known Dereniowski, but he was used to blessing her. Rogers' mother said she couldn't thank her benefactor and God enough for what they did for her.

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