You are not the first newbie poster sob story tugging at heart strings and you won't be the last.
Whether it was tugging at the heartstrings, or not it certainly doesn't sound as if she was hoping for money. She finally got that, what she needs is a roof over her head. Try mailing that! Even if she was after money, the problem is getting it there, duh!
I hope she will let those of us who are concerned know how it all turns out. I will check back here in a few days to see if there was a favorable outcome.