DENTON - Trishia Paulton was on her way to improving her life for herself and her three children.
She was trying to be an example to her kids, ages 15, 13 and eight, by going back to school and getting a bachelor's degree in social work.
The day finally came when she graduated from Texas Woman's University, but when she arrived back home after graduation, she realized it had been burglarized.
New clothes her mother bought for her and her kids was gone, as were two garbage bags full of wrapped gifts she had received from a local charity, so that her kids could have something to open on Christmas Day.
Perhaps it was a premonition, or simply kind words, but when she discovered what happened, Paulton's daughter Natashia, 13, said "I went up to [my mom] and I gave her a hug and I said,'Some good is going to come out of this.'"
And it did.
"Seeing her so upset and knowing that she had kids and that they didn't have anything to open on Christmas, you know, it really hit [me,]" said Officer Wade Laughlin, who filed the report for the Denton police. "I just wanted to do something."
It was too late for the children to be enrolled in the Denton Police Department's yearly "Shop with a Cop" program, in which about 100 low-income children are awarded $120 to spend on gifts for Christmas. But leftover funds from the program were still available and Laughlin was able to present the family with a $240 gift card from Walmart. Walmart matched the amount.
William, the youngest of the three children, had simply asked for new pants for Christmas. He took his time choosing toys, never having had so many choices.
The family was grateful for the generosity bestowed upon them.
Paulton's children did not feel safe in the burglarized home and they have since moved out.
It's a new beginning for the family.
"We are going to be okay, but this is amazing," Paulton said. "And I think it touches their hearts, as well as mine, to see that there are such amazing people out there and that they too are able to get an amazing Christmas."
Denton Police are investigating the burglary but have no suspect information.
E-mail ssolis@wfaa.com
