Full-time student turns to Goodfellows in hopes of giving her son a nice Christmas
Vanessa wants to create a better life for herself and her young son, so she has devoted herself to being a full-time student trying to earn her college degree. However, she wants him to have a nice Christmas like so many other children.
“My son is so young, he is still struggling to understand why I don’t have as much money or time since I no longer work full-time — but still have all my monthly expenses like my home mortgage, utility bills, etc.,” she said. “I do everything in my power to still try and give him everything I can, but unfortunately times are hard right now, so I am very limited on what all I can do this holiday season.”
That’s where the Goodfellow Fund can help. Once again this year, as they have done for well over a century, the Star-Telegram charity has a goal of helping 13,000 children in need in Tarrant County have a joyful holiday by providing a $50 tax-free gift certificate for each child for new clothing from Old Navy.
“As a single mother I pride myself on providing my son with a great childhood he will forever remember and also be able to enjoy being a kid,” Vanessa said. “So even if I don’t have very much money we will still spread love and care for each other and more.”
Vanessa said she also cannot wait until the day arrives when she can join in and help others, another reason she is working to strengthen her station in life.
“We may not be as fortunate this year around, but once we do get to that point again, I greatly look forward to being able to contribute back to the community and spread even more love and support when that time comes,” she said.
About the Goodfellow Fund
The story on the Goodfellow website describes its beginning as an offshoot of the first newspaper charity drive in the United States, started by the Chicago Tribune on Dec. 10, 1909. A Chicago city attorney wrote a letter challenging his friends to donate the money they would have spent on holiday partying to charity.
A couple years later, the Advertising Club of Fort Worth staged the first local Goodfellow campaign. On the day after Thanksgiving in 1912, Publisher Amon G. Carter brought the tradition to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
To find out more, or to learn more about helping, visit goodfellowfundfw.com. The post office box for donations and correspondence is P.O. Box 149, Fort Worth, TX. 76101.