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Fund set up to help injured Salem children
The Salem Children’s Charity has established a special fund to help Jamaal and Erica Goodwin, whose mother is accused of slashing their throats and dousing them with lighter fluid before setting their apartment on fire on March 18.
The children, ages 8 and 3, are recovering from their wounds at Children’s Hospital Boston. Jamaal, a first-grader at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, is still in critical condition, Principal Mark Higgins said last week, but Erica is alert and talking.
Higgins is treasurer of the Salem Children’s Charity, a nonprofit that provides financial help to low-income families.
“Given that there’s so much uncertainty going forward it seemed like the best case of action,” Higgins said during a telephone interview on Monday afternoon. “Us being an already established charity, we can collect donations on behalf of the family and have money for them regardless of how things turn out. We want to provide support the best way we can and that seemed the best way to go about doing it.”
Their mother, Tanicia Goodwin, 25, is being held without bail after being charged with two counts of attempted murder and arson. She was due to appear at a dangerousness hearing on Monday in Salem District Court.
Higgins said a few donations trickled in on Monday morning and the money will help fund the children’s short-term care.
“I imagine they need everything from clothing to toys,” Higgins said. “They are starting all over again, wherever that may be. [It’s for] more immediate type care rather than long term.”
He said he wasn’t sure how much money they could raise.
“A case like this people have been reaching out from across the state, it’s really impacted a lot of people,” he said. “Obviously any donation we can get certainly go a long way toward both children.”
Higgins said they have not been allowed to visit the children yet and he has not gotten an update on their health since last week.
“We would like to do that when the time is right,” Higgins said of visiting the children in the hospital. “They assured us that can happen. … [The hospital] contacts us essentially. We anxiously awaiting to hear back from them.
“It’s been an extremely difficult week for all of us as you can imagine. We have children that are 5-years- old to 12. It’s emotional, it runs the gamut. We stuck together and supported one another. I think the healing process is beginning and knowing he fully recovered or is on the road to recovering is what’s going to help us.”
Donations to the Jamaal and Erica Fund will assist the two children, who now are in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families. Donations should be sent to Salem Children’s Charity, c/o Jamaal and Erica Fund, Witchcraft Heights School, 1 Frederick St., Salem, Ma. 01970.
Globe Correspondent Justin A. Rice contributed to this report.
The children, ages 8 and 3, are recovering from their wounds at Children’s Hospital Boston. Jamaal, a first-grader at Witchcraft Heights Elementary School, is still in critical condition, Principal Mark Higgins said last week, but Erica is alert and talking.
Higgins is treasurer of the Salem Children’s Charity, a nonprofit that provides financial help to low-income families.
“Given that there’s so much uncertainty going forward it seemed like the best case of action,” Higgins said during a telephone interview on Monday afternoon. “Us being an already established charity, we can collect donations on behalf of the family and have money for them regardless of how things turn out. We want to provide support the best way we can and that seemed the best way to go about doing it.”
Their mother, Tanicia Goodwin, 25, is being held without bail after being charged with two counts of attempted murder and arson. She was due to appear at a dangerousness hearing on Monday in Salem District Court.
Higgins said a few donations trickled in on Monday morning and the money will help fund the children’s short-term care.
“I imagine they need everything from clothing to toys,” Higgins said. “They are starting all over again, wherever that may be. [It’s for] more immediate type care rather than long term.”
He said he wasn’t sure how much money they could raise.
“A case like this people have been reaching out from across the state, it’s really impacted a lot of people,” he said. “Obviously any donation we can get certainly go a long way toward both children.”
Higgins said they have not been allowed to visit the children yet and he has not gotten an update on their health since last week.
“We would like to do that when the time is right,” Higgins said of visiting the children in the hospital. “They assured us that can happen. … [The hospital] contacts us essentially. We anxiously awaiting to hear back from them.
“It’s been an extremely difficult week for all of us as you can imagine. We have children that are 5-years- old to 12. It’s emotional, it runs the gamut. We stuck together and supported one another. I think the healing process is beginning and knowing he fully recovered or is on the road to recovering is what’s going to help us.”
Donations to the Jamaal and Erica Fund will assist the two children, who now are in the custody of the state Department of Children and Families. Donations should be sent to Salem Children’s Charity, c/o Jamaal and Erica Fund, Witchcraft Heights School, 1 Frederick St., Salem, Ma. 01970.
Globe Correspondent Justin A. Rice contributed to this report.
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