Featured photo: Flint Resident Salina Liggins
Photos by Tanya Terry
Written by Tanya Terry
Flint Resident Salina Liggins recently became one of five recipients of a free Dell laptop given by the Flint Courier News, made possible through Comcast. Comcast and the Courier gave the laptops away as part of a contest in which contest entrants told the Courier why they needed the laptops. The winners were notified around Cyber Monday and interviewed before the Christmas holiday.
Liggins read the Courier’s article about the giveaway through a post on Facebook. Liggins had been working towards opening a business for over a year, but she still needed to own a laptop. She emailed the Courier and told us more about her situation on Nov. 26, after Thanksgiving and just days before Cyber Monday, when the contest ended. Liggins was thrilled to receive an email from the Courier informing her she was selected to receive a free laptop.
“Laptops are high, and with the income I have, it would be hard to get the one I need,” Liggins explained.
Liggins currently works as an adult homecare provider for the Department of Human Services. She has worked with individuals who are living paralyzed, have seizures or have had strokes.
In her role, she goes to clients’ homes to provide care, including bathing, laundry, housekeeping, providing transportation service for clients, running errands and giving medications. She has been working in the position for about six years. She currently works with two clients.
Although Liggins received more money because of COVID, she said she doesn’t get the same amount of hours she would with another job. She gets paid once monthly. So, the career is more rewarding internally than monetarily for Liggins.
“I love helping people,” Liggins said. “I’ve always been like that.”
Liggins told the Courier sometimes she works seven days straight. She works wholeheartedly in her position with the Department of Human Services. She is also dedicated when working toward the business she wants to start becoming a reality.
Liggins has been planning to open a business named after her grandmother, Mary Lena Broom. Broom is from Greenwood, Mississippi. Liggins visited there for Thanksgiving, after leaving Chicago. She said she has a special bond with her family.
“I wanted to make up some spices that will be called Mary Lena’s Secret Recipes. I’ve been thinking about it for a minute. My grandma’s been gone for almost two years. So, I’ve been doing a lot of research, and I noticed that I’m not eligible for a lot of grants because of my credit. I’ve got to clear a couple things up on there, and I’ve been doing that.”
One of the other reasons Liggins gave for not being able to obtain funding was a lack of networking in Flint and Genesee County.
“A lot of people do not want to help you. You can find someone where they have a business, but they won’t let you in on how they got the business.”
Liggins had been going to the library for two to three hours daily. Two to three times a week, she was there with her notebook, doing the necessary research to open her business. She also stated she is preparing for the long term regarding Mary Lena’s Secret Recipes.
Liggins feels having the business will allow her to better care for her family. She has two sons: Robert, who is 24, and Rachimeer, who is 16.
With her new laptop, Liggins is hoping to sit at home on her days off or when she gets off work to see what she needs to do to obtain her goal and how she needs to do it.
Since both Liggins’ sons are skilled in cooking, Liggins said they would also be helping her with Mary Lena’s Secret Recipes. Additionally, Liggins stated she would like to see the business passed down to her sons, being the next generation.
“I’m excited about getting the laptop, especially coming from my own community.”
