🎉 Meet Kayun: Our 25th Client Served in 2025!
At the start of 2025, OnRamp DFW set an ambitious goal to provide 12 more vehicles than we did the previous year. Last week, we officially met that goal with our 25th giveaway of 2025, and our 56th giveaway overall! We couldn't imagine a more fitting person to mark this milestone than Kayun.
Kayun spent a significant portion of her life navigating the foster care system. As the oldest of seven siblings, she often stepped into a caretaking role for her younger brothers and sisters when supportive parents were absent. Even as a young adult working toward her own independence, she recently supported a younger sibling through a serious medical crisis while maintaining her own employment and college studies.
Kayun is a woman of action and focus. She spent the last two and a half years working with her mentor, Alyssa, through the Buckner NextStep program. This supervised independent living program helped Kayun bridge the gap between foster care and a stable, self-sufficient adulthood.
Kayun’s work ethic is undeniable. After a year of not getting enough hours at her old job, and knowing she needed additional income, she successfully transitioned to a job as an overnight stocker at Joe V’s. While working these long overnight hours, she has also been pursuing her education at Dallas College. She recently earned her CNA certification and is working toward an Associate’s degree in Psychology, with the long-term goal of becoming a Nurse.
Overcoming the Setbacks And yet through all of that, reliable transportation was still one of the greatest hurdles to Kayun’s success. About a year ago, she used every cent of her hard-earned savings to buy her first car. Tragically, the vehicle suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure just months later, and the cost of repairs were far to expensive for her to afford. Since then, Kayun has relied on walking and expensive rideshare apps to get to her job and classes.
With an upcoming move, Kayun knew that walking and public transit would no longer be viable options for her work & school schedule. Additionally, one of Kayun's primary goals for the next year is to take custody of a younger sibling who is still in the foster care system. Having a reliable vehicle is a critical requirements for her to provide the life she & her siblings need.
The Gift of Mobility With the support of Alyssa and the team at Buckner NextStep, we were honored to present Kayun with a wonderful Toyota RAV4. This vehicle is a vital tool that will allow her to complete her college degree, reach her overnight shifts safely, pursue a nursing program, and most importantly, stay connected to her family.
Our Most Impactful Year Yet 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗 🚗
As we celebrate Kayun’s story, we want to take a moment to look back at all that God has done through OnRamp DFW and this wonderful community.
Everything we do—from purchasing vehicles to handing over keys. From connecting with clients to seeing them pursue self-sufficiency over the course of a year—relies entirely on the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers. You are living out the call of Jesus to love your neighbor in a tangible and impactful way. Whether you donated a vehicle, contributed financially, prayed for our work, or gave of your time to repair a car or interview a client, you helped remove the barriers of transportation and isolation for 25 families this year.
As 2025 comes to a close, we hope that you have felt just as part of this mission as those of us who get to hand the actual keys over. Your kindness & generosity ensures that hardworking neighbors like Kayun have the tools they need to build the futures they deserve. We are honored to serve this community alongside you, and we look forward to all we will accomplish together in 2026!
Story shared with permission of the client
