Widowed mom’s daughter will enjoy Christmas a bit more

Shametra’s husband died a year ago, and she has struggled since to support herself and her 4-year-old daughter.

“It’s been really hard trying to make ends meet,” the 33-year-old mother said.

Not only has it been tough financially, but having to adjust to life without a dad has also been difficult for her daughter, Shametra said. So when a neighbor at her apartment complex mentioned the Goodfellow Fund, Shametra decided to apply for help.

The Star-Telegram’s annual holiday charity provides $50 gift cards for clothes and shoes for eligible children. This year, the fund hopes to raise $1 million and serve 20,000 children.

Shametra works, but the family has been barely getting by since her husband died of respiratory problems, she said. Her job working with the mentally disabled is now the family’s main source of support, she said.

When she found out that she would be getting a J.C. Penney gift card for her daughter, Shametra was thankful. She said her daughter has been outgrowing her clothes, but now some new outfits will be under the tree on Christmas.

“I was very happy … very relieved my child will be getting something for Christmas,” she said.

For this family, the fund means a 4-year-old girl is going to have a happier Christmas, and her mom has one less thing to worry about.

“It’s hard to ask for help, but it’s not hard,” Shametra said, trying to put into words what it’s like to apply to the fund for the first time. “I needed it.”

This story was originally published December 6, 2014 at 4:44 PM with the headline "Widowed mom’s daughter will enjoy Christmas a bit more."