Taylor Swift Donates £36,400 To Widowed Mother Of Five

Taylor Swift has donated £36,400 (US$50,000) to a woman who lost her husband to coronavirus, and also sent her a personal note.

On March 23, Swift and her mother, Andrea, jointly donated the total goal amount of a GoFundMe appeal for Vickie Quarles, a mother of five daughters who was widowed after her husband, Theodis Ray Quarles, died of coronavirus just one week before Christmas.

At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page has raised $62,075 out of a $50,000 target.

Following the donation from Swift and 29 others, Vickie Quarels issued a statement of gratitude:

"Words cannot express how incredibly grateful I am for all of the kind and caring people who have made donations in support of me and my five daughters. I would like to especially say thank you to Andrea and Taylor Swift for your thoughtfulness and generosity from our home state of Tennessee. I appreciate the sweet personal note, it warmed my heart.

"The road ahead will definitely not be the same without Theodis but with each day I am humbled and anchored in hope that I can continue to raise the girls to be as compassionate and caring as all of you. Thank you so very much."

DeQuandaDeQuanda Smith, a close friend of the Quarles family, wrote on the GoFundMe page:

“Exactly one week before Christmas, my dear friend Vicki lost her husband to Covid-19. When the paramedics arrived [to] the Quarles' home to transport Theodis to the hospital for breathing difficulties, Vicki wasn't allowed to accompany her husband due to quarantine restrictions. Little did she know that this would be her final engagement with her best friend. She later received a call from the hospital that Theodis had [succumb] to this awful virus.

“Just as superstars and legends are seldom replaced, Theodis' transition will forever leave a void on the Quarles team. Alyssa, Anaya, Asia, Allie and Aryah will miss him at breakfast, at their class plays, proms, recitals, graduations, college entries...and ultimately their weddings.

“With daily prayer and providing dinner for my friend and her daughters, the gesture seems so very small in comparison to what lies ahead for this family. I decided to launch this GoFundMe initiative in support of Vicki and her girls to offer financial relief and worry from things associated with basic immediate needs as well as for their continued growth, goals and aspirations.

“I am confident that their father, Theodis Ray Quarles, will be smiling from heaven when his little teacher, doctor, CEO, nurse or entrepreneur makes her mark in the world. As the Lord leads Vicki to shepherd them to their destinies, your donation is most appreciated in championing this family to the finish line.

“Please and thank you in advance for your support and know that all is greatly appreciated...be it financial or merely sharing this opportunity for others to help make a difference in the lives of these young daughters.”