A group of good Samaritans helped a woman who was stranded in the area after her car broke down Wednesday.
Denise Mitchell was headed to Connecticut to visit family when her car starter died, she said.
A tow truck pulled the car into a Home Depot parking lot in Oxon Hill, but Mitchell was out of money. She was sleeping in her car when a group of day laborers noticed her and talked to her about what happened.
Mitchell touched their hearts and the group wanted to help, said Carlos Villanueva, one of the laborers.
"Growing up the right way, you're taught to help those who can't help themselves," said Adrian Baptiste, another person in the group.
They pooled about $500 over the next couple of days and called in favor to a mechanic friend. It would have cost more than $1,000 to fix the car, but lucky for Mitchell, they did it all for free.
"They gave me food, they gave me something to drink. I mean, these guys all pitched in to pay for this. I didn't have any money," Mitchell said. "These guys are special, oh my God. They'll be in my heart forever.
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The men said they understood car troubles can happen to all of us.
"I hope I can repay them back someday. I know God will," Mitchell said.
