Laid off from oil patch job, North Dakota woman gets Christmas help after Facebook plea
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}This June 21, 2015 family photo provided by Elizabeth Garcia shows Garcia posing with her children Cristian, rear, and Nayeli, at their home in Watford City, N.D. The oil industry slump is leading to layoffs in North Dakota’s oil patch, but Garcia, who was laid of before Christmas, has found some surprising support. Garcia couldn’t buy presents for her two kids, so she put her plight on Facebook and tried to sell an old camper she owned. The response was overwhelming. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Garcia via AP) (The Associated Press)
The oil industry slump is leading to layoffs in North Dakota's oil patch, but one resident has found some surprising support.
Elizabeth Garcia of Watford City has been laid off from three successive jobs since summer. Worried about buying Christmas presents for her two kids, she took to Facebook to offer an old camper for sale to raise money.
The response brought her to tears. One store offered to let her pick out presents for her kids. People donated toys, store gift cards and grocery store cards.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}She's among what the North Dakota Petroleum Council estimates as many as 20,000 workers have lost their jobs in the oil downturn.