Taylor Swift donates to struggling area mom
Selewski featured in article from Washington Post
“Shelbie, I’m sending you this gift after reading about you in The Washington Post. No one should have to feel the kind of stress that’s been put on you. I hope you and your beautiful family have a great holiday season. Love, Taylor.”
— Taylor Swift, in message to Shelbie Selewski
No doubt that Shelbie Selewski is a Swiftie.
That is the moniker given to the legions of Taylor Swift fans.
Swift is an immensely popular singer-songwriter. She has sold millions of records and her latest is evermore.
It’s unknown if Swift’s hugely popular Shake It Off is number one on Selewski’s hit list, but there is no way the 29-year-old Macomb County resident can shake off the feeling of incredible gratitude she has for Swift.
Shortly after Selewski was among those featured in a Washington Post article detailing the devastating economic impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on people across the country, a GoFundMe account was established for her.
Selewski was more than $2,000 behind on rent and utilities after losing her job as a medical receptionist. Eviction notices began to decorate her door. She could not pay her utility bills and her electricity has been shut off three times at least. Her new baby had to spend time in Children’s Hospital after being born with a collapsed lung.
The whole world seemed like it was collapsing around her.
Here’s what Selewski wrote in that GoFundMe account:
“Hello! My name is Shelbie Selewski and I’m from MI. I was featured in the The Washington Post story about people being behind on their rent and utilities. I lost my job in the spring and have had to stay home with my young daughter who was born with a collapsed lung right before Covid (Dec) and was hospitalized for two months after at Childrens.
“I have tirelessly tried to find employment along with my Fiancé but with Vada (daughter) being compromised and my 7 year old in Virtual School it has proven incredibly difficult. We have sold everything we could possibly sell and with that have always paid our bills as much as possible but it feels like every day something else comes up.
“From shut offs to actually being shut off, there is not a moment that I wish this Pandemic had never happened. I have never thought to make a GoFundMe but with Christmas approaching I just didn’t know what else to do.
“We would be grateful for any help. The money will go directly to keeping our lights on this holiday season and trying to pay some rent so we aren’t evicted. Any leftover money will go toward the kids.”
The original goal was $ 8,000. Selewski disabled new donations after $23,612 had been raised.
Swift made a $13,000 donation. That contribution came with a note:
“Shelbie, I’m sending you this gift after reading about you in The Washington Post. No one should have to feel the kind of stress that’s been put on you. I hope you and your beautiful family have a great holiday season. Love, Taylor.”
In closing out anymore GoFuneMe donations, Selewski wrote:
“This has been extremely overwhelming and we are so grateful for everything. Throughout this we were lucky to have help from the eviction program and have a landlord who waited. Unfortunately after all of this our lease was up the same month our rent was due again and after working out a plan with our landlord we were able to come up with an easier way to pay.
“This money will pay off the other outstanding bills, and all of the things we were unable to get our children during the Pandemic. Thank you all so much for every donation! It’s seriously been a miracle.”
Selewski is very, very grateful. And will be ever more.