Ethiopians in Seattle brace up to save their unsung hero

After several hours of service, the car was ready, and when Mesfin asked for the bill, Yonas looked at him smiling, like a big brother, and uttered “$150”. Mesfin, who was expecting to pay at least twice that amount, was taken aback to hear the much reduced amount, and stretched out a hand with three ‘one-hundred’ bills. The mechanic took only one.

Mesfin is one of thousands of Ethiopians who get their cars serviced at Yonas’s North Seattle Auto Center, and thereby see the tall, good-looking dreadlocked man as an out-of-this-world angel.

Disarmingly humble, Yonas’s generosity doesn’t start and end at his garage. He’s a volunteer at many Ethiopian meetings, lending his skill at managing the stage sound system up to donating several hundreds of dollars during fund-raising events. He also trains young, would-be auto mechanics for free.

It was only a few days ago that Ethiopians in Seattle have learned the shocking news that their ‘angel’ is down with a serious illness. Yonas seeks an immediate medical help which entails an expensive medical bill. Ethiopians are bracing up to step in and rescue their unsung hero.

Accordingly, a fund-raising event has been organized for Sunday July 20, 2014 at Ethiopian Community Center.

You may have missed meetings and events for various reasons but you can’t miss this one: It is a YONAS Day, the quiet man who has given so much to his community.

Place: Ethiopian Community Center
8323 Rainier Ave S
Seattle, Washington
Time: 12:00-6:00pm