Fresh from California, Mansfield family thankful for Goodfellows

Trina and her husband uprooted their family in California last summer and moved to Mansfield.

“California is very expensive,” she said. “I was paying $1,500 for a two-bedroom apartment.”

Her husband’s two-month job search, and the expense of getting resettled here, devoured all that the family had saved and scraped together from selling almost everything they had. They started over from scratch buying the necessities of life. That’s left no money for niceties like Christmas gifts.

Fortunately, the Goodfellow Fund was able to help with $50 J.C. Penney gift cards for Geena, 13, Janette, 12, and Makinna, 9.

“I’m really grateful for the gift cards,” Trina said. “My children aren’t very picky. If I can get them a pair of shoes and a couple of shirts each, they’ll be happy.”

Trina said she had been going “back and forth” on whether to give the kids their gifts now or wait.

“I decided these are for Christmas,” she said. “They’ll be wrapped under the tree.”

Trina’s motives for moving included a better education for her kids.

“The schools are a lot different out here,” she said. “They really stress education and college. You can do it out here.”

In turn, Trina is determined to teach her children the importance of schooling by example. She registered for classes at Tarrant County College Southeast Campus, and is considering a degree plan for a job as a nurse or probation officer.

Meanwhile, she’s looking for a job that will accommodate her TCC schedule. She wants something that uses accounting and people skills. Her work experience has been in serving and helping other folks.

Turning to organizations like Goodfellows is a new experience for her.

“We are not used to asking for help,” Trina said. “I’ve always been the one helping others.”

This story was originally published November 19, 2016 at 4:05 PM with the headline "Fresh from California, Mansfield family thankful for Goodfellows."