This is a new one and I hope I did the right thing. I'm the Admin of our church FB page- my name is not on it since it's considered a "business account". A couple of weeks ago I started getting frantic messages (in the Messenger section, not regular posts) from the daughter of former parishioners. They died within a few months of each other 7 years ago and their funerals were held at our church. I never met the daughter but knew the parents. She has a full FB profile going back years although we're not connected. She IS friends with a few church members. So, I'm convinced she is who she says she is.
She's fallen on hard times. Husband died 2 years ago and she and her son are living in their car, sleeping in the Wal-Mart parking lot at night. They're running out of food and gas. Can anyone help? I referred her to a really good local nonprofit that I support generously. She did make contact with them but by that time it was the weekend and they couldn't do much. She kept leaving messages. They were running out of coolant for their car and needed food. Please? Can anyone help?
It's partly guilt, I guess. I just got back from a trip to Central America and am researching Business Class airfares for a trip I'm planning to Vietnam. My lower floor of my house is a full living area with 2 BR and a kitchen. Heck, I could take them in. (Yeah, I know better. I'm not equipped to help her out of her situation. The nonprofit is.)
So... I sent her $200 via PayPal. (Her account had her full name on it; mine has a spamcatcher e-mail address so I'm still anonymous.) She was so grateful- said they'd used it to buy food, and coolant to keep the car running. She's going to get help from the nonprofit.
I can't help but wonder how things went downhill that badly. She appears to be in her 40s and lists several previous employers on her FB profile. I hope the nonprofit can help her because I don't think it would be a good idea for her to keep asking me for help.