Nursing student grateful for help from Goodfellows [Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas]

Dec. 13--Two years ago, April's job with a telecommunications company was outsourced overseas.

The single mother of two was determined to find work in a field in which that fate was unlikely to be repeated. She signed up for nursing school and hopes to graduate in two years.

"I like helping people, and there's always nursing jobs available," said April, who lives in southeast Fort Worth.

But until she completes her training, April does not have an income. Her unemployment insurance has run out, so she is relying on child support and education grants to help her get by.

In the meantime, she is grateful that the Goodfellows program can help her with Christmas gifts for her two daughters, ages 6 and 11.

"They make straight As, and they are very good children," April wrote in her letter to Goodfellows.

Since 1912, The Goodfellow Fund has helped provide something for Tarrant County children like April's during the holidays. Whereas the first Goodfellow recipients received gift baskets filled with food and toys, these days, the fund gives out $50 gift cards to J.C. Penney that can be used only for clothing or shoes.

With only two weeks left in the annual fundraising campaign, the fund is far from its goal of $1 million to assist 20,000 children.

April said she looks forward to finding a nursing job and being able to provide for her family on her own.

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