A Christmas gesture helps a single mom and her 4 kids

Wednesday, December 22nd 2004, 5:47 am

By: News On 6

Sometimes the true holiday spirit gets lost in the rush to buy up presents and decorate for the season. News on 6 reporter Heather Lewin has an inspirational story of giving, one that made all the difference for one Green Country family this Christmas.

As the sole breadwinner for a family of 5, Katy Vines was just barely making ends meet when her van with over 200,000 miles on it finally gave out. â€œWe'd been babying it trying to make it last until Spring so I could get the orthodontist paid off, when I get the orthodontist paid off I can afford monthly payments to get a newer vehicle."

But the van wouldn't wait. "I can't afford to replace the vehicle but I need a vehicle to get back and forth to work. Single mother of 4 kids and I'm it.â€ So she scraped together what cash she could, it wasn't much and started hunting for a car. "I looked online I asked friends and family if anybody had an inexpensive used car, nobody had anything I could afford."

Finally she found one within her budget and contacted the owner. "She told me it wasn't a pretty car, but they still had it and it was still for sale."

Kelli Fulghum: "She said she was interested in the car and she told me about her situation. I felt pretty bad for her, so we decided to meet up and she could look at the car, about 2 minutes later, I didn't even have to think about it, I called her back and said, you can have the car."

Katy: "I didn't know what to think, I just sat still I couldn't say anything." Kelli told her all she had to do in return was take the money to be spent on the car and spend it on her kids for Christmas. Katy: â€œI'm very touched by the generosity, I'm amazed by it." Kelli was surprised at all the attention.

Kelli: "It was a small gesture on my behalf, but it meant a lot to her. That's what I get out of it. She gets the car, I get the Christmas spirit.â€ Katy: â€œThanks for the car, Kelli."

Katy is now planning to take her new car out and do some Christmas shopping.