UPDATE [04-12-2025]: We’ve updated this article with information about Debbie’s GoFundMe campaign, which has raised over $9,000 in just 30 hours
If the closest thing to hell in Bushwick is a visit to the post office, then the opposite is true about local shipping center Sent.
Behind the counter, Debbie Perez has spent years greeting customers by name, remembering their addresses, and transforming mundane shipping errands into meaningful human connections. But for the past few weeks, after being evicted from her apartment, Debbie has been experiencing the store in a completely different way: as her bedroom.
“I’ve actually been sleeping and living here,” Debbie says, pointing to the spot where customers usually queue up during business hours. “You’re standing in the middle of my bedroom at nighttime.”
Each evening, after helping the last customer, Debbie and her son Michael unfold a cot and a mattress among the shipping packages on the concrete floor of Sent. The shipping labels, scales, and package bins that define her workday surround her makeshift sleeping quarters. Despite facing housing insecurity, Debbie continues showing up for her community, unwilling to leave her boss and customers during the busy Jewish holiday shipping season.
Debbie’s situation reflects a larger crisis affecting New York’s workforce. While the Coalition for the Homeless reports over 120,000 individuals sleeping in NYC shelters each night, what’s less visible is that approximately one-third of families in these shelters have at least one employed adult. These are not people struggling with addiction or mental illness, but essential workers—taxi drivers, healthcare workers, city employees, and service staff—who earn salaries ($40,000-$50,000 in some cases) that simply cannot match NYC’s housing costs.
Despite working over 50 hours weekly and managing operations single-handedly most days, Debbie’s modest salary hasn’t been enough to secure stable housing amidst Brooklyn’s soaring rents. It’s a stark reality that stands in contrast to the warmth she provides her community daily.
“When I come to work, I am on a first-name basis with 75% of the customers,” Debbie says. “They’re no longer just my customers, half of them are my friends now. Sometimes they come in just to say hi.”
Her expertise and dedication have earned her near-legendary status in the neighborhood. With 36 five-star reviews out of 44 total on Yelp, customers consistently praise her by name. “Debbie is a TREASURE to Brooklyn,” writes one reviewer. Another online vintage store owner noted, “D is the lady of the neighborhood… she has a positive solution to all problems shipping and in my personal life.”
Sent owner Dovi Cinner has supported Debbie through this challenging period, allowing her to stay at the shipping center during her housing transition. “He’s like the most easy-going Jewish guy I ever met. He’s funny and good at what he does,” Debbie shares.
Fortunately, Debbie has found a more conventional living arrangement. Her oldest son, who recently welcomed twins in Yonkers, has insisted she move in with his family. Though presented as mutual assistance—Debbie helping with childcare—the arrangement provides her with stable housing. Her last day at Sent will be May 2nd.
For Debbie, who grew up in Williamsburg playing in “Johnny pumps” and sneaking nighttime swims at McCarren pool, the move represents a significant change. “I can’t see myself leaving Brooklyn forever,” she insists, making clear this Yonkers relocation is temporary.
As Debbie prepares to leave, the community is organizing a special event to celebrate her years of service and express collective gratitude. All community members are invited to gather on April 26th at 3 pm at Crossroads Cafe for a going-away party honoring Debbie’s remarkable dedication and service.
Ending her interview with Bushwick Daily, Debbie reflects on what she’ll miss most: “I’m gonna miss all my customers, their families, all my ‘Sent’ babies and my ‘Sent’ puppies. Like, all of my best friends are under four feet tall. They’re either animals or babies. So, like those are the ones I am going to miss the most, along with their mothers and fathers. Of course, like some of them, I only see them with their dads. And some of them I only see them with their moms. And now I have some kids that come in here by themselves without their moms and dads. The dogs… the dogs always come in with their parents. So yeah, I’m going to miss all of them.. “
In a city where transactional interactions are the norm, Debbie created something extraordinary, a space where shipping packages became an occasion for genuine human connection. That she did so while facing housing insecurity herself only underscores the complexity of a neighborhood where community thrives despite increasing economic pressures and the outstanding character and strength of, Debbie Perez.
We invite readers to share their favorite Debbie stories in the comments or via email. Help us celebrate the warmth, kindness, and resilience Debbie has shared with all of us—qualities that have genuinely transformed a simple shipping center into the heart of Williamsburg.
To contribute to Debbie and Michael’s housing fund, please visit their GoFundMe, Support Debbie and Michael’s Journey to Stability. Every donation helps them find stability and hopefully return to the Brooklyn community they love.
Update:
Update from GofundMe Fundraiser Page:
Debbie’s Support Fund Update: We’ve Exceeded Our Goal!
First, THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed to Debbie’s fund! In just 24 hours, we’ve raised an incredible $9,300—far surpassing our initial $5,000 goal. This outpouring of support demonstrates just how deeply Debbie has touched our community through her years of service at Sent.
While we’ve reached our initial target, we’ve decided to continue the fundraiser. Debbie will be out of work for the foreseeable future as she assists with caring for her son’s newborn twins in Yonkers. These additional funds will provide crucial support during this transition period when she won’t have regular income.
If you’ve already donated, please consider sharing Debbie’s story with friends and on social media. If you haven’t yet contributed, there’s still time to help support someone who has helped our community for years.
A community farewell gathering for Debbie will be held on April 26th at 3pm at Crossroads Cafe for those who wish to express their appreciation in person.
Again, thank you for showing Debbie that the community connections she’s fostered work both ways, the neighborhood she’s served so faithfully is here for her too.
The uploaded video is from my original interview with Debbie. I haven’t had time to edit the entire footage yet, but this is a very rough cut featuring Debbie discussing her eviction and her experience sleeping in the shipping center. Anyone who knows her understands how she maintains a strong facade at Sent—you would never know about her situation if you visited the store and she helped you.
Cover Image for Bushwick Daily by Paul Del Gesso
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