When Natasha Conzater began falling behind on her monthly power bill, she began to worry.

Conzater’s youngest daughter has asthma and depends on a nebulizer to help her breathe.

The past few years have been something of an uphill battle for the mother of six boys and three girls. First, Conzater lost her job as a primary care aide, then she went through a traumatic experience with the death of her mother.

In that time she has been unable to find work in the health care industry — something Conzater enjoyed. “I felt like it was what I should be doing — helping people,” she says.

Even though Conzater says she has been paying what she could of her monthly bills, the family’s overall debt has started to add up.

“I started getting behind right after summertime,” she says.

And with colder weather on the way, Conzater began to worry. A friend told her about the Woodyard Fund so she decided to give it a try.

After just one call, Conzater had an appointment within a few days.

“They were very polite, very helpful,” she said. “It’s a blessing because it was more than I had.”

Through the Woodyard Fund, Conzater was able to pay $300 toward her November and December power bill.

Despite her life’s struggles, Conzater tries to remain positive. She would like to go back to school to finish a program she started in medical billing coding, she says, but knows she needs to work on her household finances first.

In the meantime, she is thankful for the Woodyard Fund and those that continue to support it.

“They helped me in a way that it gave me a chance to catch up and be able to give that chance to my kids.”

Woodyard Fund

How to give help: Donations can be mailed to the Woodyard Fund, c/o The State, P.O. Box 1333, Columbia SC 29202. Make checks payable to the Woodyard Fund. All donations are tax-deductible.

How to get help: Area residents who need assistance with heating bills can call for an appointment at (803) 462-5093.

WOODYARD FUND CONTRIBUTIONS

For the week ending Jan. 4

Richard D. Goewey, $5,000

Anonymous, $25

Barbara B. Boyd, $200

Anonymous, $100

Barbara A. Berry, $100

Ruth R. Yoch, $50

Mrs. Kenneth M. May, $500

In memory of Jose A. Pacheco, $30

Anonymous, $100

Barbara and Aubrey, in loving memory of our parents, $50

Sid and Henrietta Locke, $100

Dorothy and Selden Smith, $100

Dr. and Mrs. Philips Levin, $100

The employees of CDM Smith, $275

Henry T. Warren Jr., $200

Thomasene T. Edmonds, $200

Anonymous, $500

In memory of those who died in Newtown, Conn., $100

In memory of Marcia T. Duffy, $100

Carolyn Williamson, $100

Amy E. Shell, $100

Kimberly Watts, $25

Becky Falls, $25

Sandra M. Ruff, $50

Dean H. Kress, $200

Miley & Associates Inc., $100

In memory of Al Barton, $250

Steve and Jan Hawley, $1,000

In memory of Carl E. and Ruth E. Davis, $200

Gerald F. Smith, $250

The Aerobics/Pilates with Dot Classes at the Capital Senior Center, $100

Kathy Adams, $50

Shirley and Everette Ness, iIn honor of Carolyn and Lewis Cromer, $25

Suzanne B. Thomas, $100

J.E. Lawrence, $25

Carol M. Lawson, $100

James T. Dillard, $10

Kerry G. Stubbs, $100

Anonymous, $30

Anonymous, $100

Louis A. Parent, $100

Dr. Anne L. Matthews, in memory of Dr. Charlie Sloan, $200

Emily White, in memory of Lamar White, $100

Lester W. Johnson Jr., $100

The Abdalla family, $50

Marie Thomas, $100

In loving memory of Rhett Lawrence Whiteside, $100

Anonymous, $100

Barnyard Worship Service, $500

With sincere sorrow and remembrance for the victims of the Sandy Hook shooting, $26

Terry L. Goldring, $200

Robert Hager, $50

Mary W. Hoskins, $100

Bobby Lorick, $200

Petersen Presbyterian Church, $200

Charles Gardner, $50

In memory of Katherine Abrams, $100

Carol A. Krebs, $50

Caroline and Frank Ellerbe, $200

In memory of Dr. Raymond Elam, DVM, $100

Rosamond Kent Sprague, $250

In honor of Bethel ARP Congregation, $100

Martin C. Grubbs, $25

Lee C. Siple, $100

Phelps H. Bultman, $25

In honor ot the employees of the Scott Law Firm, $1,000

TOTAL THIS WEEK $14,896

TOTAL TO DATE $75,277

Reach Lucas at (803) 771-8657.