INMAN, S.C. — An S.C. paramedic says he never received any money from a woman who claimed she was raising funds to help pay for his surgery.
Bond was set at $2,000 Wednesday for Teresa Strickland, who is accused of fundraising under false pretenses.
Kevin Jenkins had a heart attack and learned that he’d need an operation, which would require financial help for his family, according to WSPA.
“It’s hard for people to give and when you find someone who wants to give, you know, that’s a blessing,” he said.
Strickland was already collecting, unbeknownst to Jenkins. She had been interviewed on television to ask for donations to her new organization, “Sparking Inman.” She told the interviewer, "...helping the EMS workers that help us all the time but one of them is having surgery at Duke University for his heart and nobody to help him.”
Later, when talking about a planned poker run, she said, “all the proceeds from that, all the money is going to go to help the EMS worker. His family needs help really bad.”
The same day the interview aired, Strickland created a Facebook page promoting her organization.
Strickland received one donation of $400 in cash and said she spent half of the money on school supplies for needy children in Inman, a cause she always intended to support.
Jenkins said he’d never seen or heard of Strickland or her charity before.
He notified the authorities, who charged Strickland with fundraising under false pretenses.