LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — Meredith Duff is overwhelmed with people who reached out to her since we shared her story Thursday. The single mom has been selling plants to pay for expenses and school supplies for her daughters, mainly to buy a laptop for her youngest who will be home-schooled this year.
After our story aired, Duff says a Walmart manager showed up at her door with a laptop and vouchers for clothing. On Friday, more strangers dropped by her Bowmar Street home to buy plants and give her groceries, money and a morale boost. Some even brought her more plants to sell or invited Duff to dig up plants at their home to sell.
"I appreciate these bonds with people, I appreciate everyone so much," said Duff who spoke to us reluctantly. She says while most people understand her circumstances, a few have questioned why she would need to sell plants to buy her five-year-old daughter a laptop and other supplies when Woodford County Schools provide chrome books, laptops and other essentials for students.
"I think we should start giving everyone the benefit of the doubt, there's a reason we aren't doing it that way. Just give people benefit of the doubt," said Duff.
Her oldest daughter, who is enrolled in the district, would be eligible for the benefits. However, her home-schooled daughter would not. Duff says she's not sure if her 10-year-old will go to public school because of potential COVID-19 exposure to her own mother, a lung cancer survivor."
My mom would not live through this virus and we just don't want to put her at risk," said Duff.
Overall, the unemployed mother of two says she's humbled by the generosity. She plans to keep selling plants to help cover her rent and other expenses so she can teach her girls to take care of themselves.
