When Catherine and Jervis White registered to attend Black Entrepreneurs Day at the Minnesota State Capital on February 3, organizer Sheletta Brundidge got curious.
“I wanted to know how their business was doing and I noticed a GoFundMe page,” said Brundidge. The White’s business is called Black Roots Sauces & Seasonings. Founders Catherine and Jervis created the company to share their love of food and the best possible ingredients with others to enhance their own cooking experiences.
“At Black Roots, we are more than just a sauces and seasoning company,” the couple said on their website. “We are a family that is passionate about food and committed to providing our customers with the best possible products and service. We believe that food is a way to connect with others and create memories that last a lifetime.”
On the Black Roots GoFundMe page, a message from Catherine and Jervis stated, “Our family car, which has been the backbone of both our business and family life, is now showing its age with nearly 300,000 miles. We depend on it for everything: delivering orders, attending markets, meeting with partners and most importantly, caring for our family.”
Brundidge stepped up to help and bought a computer the couple also needed and a gift card for Christmas presents for their kids. It’s a kind gesture for a couple she barely knew. And yet, she could not stop thinking about the vehicle and the GoFundMe, which had less than $200 in it. “The Lord would not let me rest,” Brundidge explained. “He said, you are on assignment to bless them. I thought, ok, Jesus, let’s go!”
Having never bought a car on her own, Brundidge went into a dealership in Burnsville and picked out a Honda Odyssey van for the couple like the one she was driving. She asked Catherine and Jervis to meet her for lunch and gave them the address to the dealership.
As the couple walked in, Catherine kept repeating, “Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god.”
Brundidge brought them to the van, pointing out its features. “You got leather seats, a DVD player for the kids, three rows and a sunroof.” Catherine teared up and said, “Thank you Jesus.”
“Small businesses are the lifeline of our communities,” said Washington County Commissioner Karla Bigham, who knows Black Roots and its founders well. “Catherine and Jervis have spent years building small businesses and learning how to launch their dream. They are tenacious and undeterred by adversity that comes their way.”
Brundidge says she’s not a big fan of GoFundMe campaigns. She believes in depending on our friends and community when we need help, not strangers. “We are blessed to bless someone else. You may not be able to buy someone a car, but you can buy tires. Or hire a small business to cater your event. It’s so important that we take the opportunity to pay it forward and be on the lookout for those opportunities.”