Citizen of the Week: Chelsea Robbins Moves Disabled Father, Son Into Home

Chelsea Robbins didn’t plan to change anyone’s life that day—she just needed gas.

But a stop at the Kroger at Thomas Crossroads last November turned into a months-long effort that helped a disabled father and his son move from living in their car to a place they can now call home.

“I was talking to my boys, and I said, I think we’re supposed to go see if this man is hungry,” Robbins said.

The man in the wheelchair introduced himself as David. He told Robbins he wasn’t hungry, but shared that he and his 29-year-old son, Chad, were living in their car. His son worked long days delivering food, dropping him off in the parking lot each morning and returning at night.

“I just thought, oh my gosh, they’re out here doing everything they can,” Robbins said.

Robbins kept coming back.

What started as checking in with food and gift cards quickly grew into something larger. With David’s permission, she shared his story in local Facebook groups. The response was immediate—neighbors who recognized him, families who had prayed for him, and strangers ready to help.

“So many people saying how, oh, we stop and see him all the time,” she said.

A GoFundMe campaign followed. What began as a small effort to get the pair out of the cold turned into a community-wide response. More than 100 donors contributed, ultimately raising over $11,000 to keep David and Chad in a hotel through the winter.

“It was the greatest blessing,” Robbins said.

During those months, stability proved critical. David—who lost part of his leg due to diabetes—suffered a seizure and required hospitalization. His son later learned he is pre-diabetic. Both were able to recover in a safe environment rather than in a car.

“The blessing is he didn’t have to be in his car when that happened,” Robbins said.

The path to permanent housing wasn’t easy.

A donated camper turned out to be unusable due to severe water damage and mold. Another plan to build out an apartment space fell through when costs became too high.

Through it all, Robbins said David remained steady.

“He has not asked for anything this whole time,” she said.

The breakthrough came when a connection led to a rent-to-own trailer in Pine Mountain. Within days, Robbins helped coordinate the move. Community members donated furniture, a contractor offered to build a wheelchair ramp, and the pair finally had a place of their own.

“It’s actually rent to own, which is amazing,” Robbins said.

Today, David and Chad are no longer homeless. They have a roof, a reliable car, and a path forward. Chad is now searching for steady work—something that was difficult without a permanent address.

“He is motivated to get a job now that his dad is more stable and sheltered,” Robbins said.

For Robbins, the work continues. Her focus now is helping them reach long-term stability, including paying off the trailer so their monthly costs drop significantly.

Robbins said that if the trailer is paid off and monthly costs drop, the pair will be in a position to support themselves—especially once Chad secures steady work.

“When Chad gets a job, then he absolutely could, yes,” she said.

At home, the experience has shaped her two young sons in ways she didn’t expect.

On Christmas Day, they chose to leave their new toys behind to deliver gifts to David and Chad.

“For my kids to stop playing with the toys that they received and be so excited to have Mr. David and Mr. Chad open up the gifts was the most beautiful thing,” Robbins said.

Robbins is quick to deflect credit, pointing instead to the dozens of people who stepped in along the way.

“It is not about me,” she said. “It is about their story and their homelessness to homed journey.”

Still, her role is clear.

She was the one who stopped.

And she hasn’t stopped since.To contribute to keeping David and Chad in their trailer visit the GoFundMe link that Chelsea set up. 

Do you know a Citizen like Chelsea Robbins? We’d love for you to nominate them for a future Citizen of the Week.

Anyone in Fayette or Coweta County can nominate a local resident to be featured. Submissions must include between 100 and 500 words explaining why your nominee deserves the spotlight and a photo of them. (Submissions without a photo cannot be accepted.) Fill out the nomination form here: Nominate a Citizen of the Week