I finally reached Mother Lawrence today. (Read original column here.) She said her phone had been mistakenly disconnected and so she was afraid people had called trying to donate money to her cause, but they weren't able to. She just had it turned back on this afternoon.

So far, a few people have donated a little under $1,000 toward her debt of $19,000. Other people came with clothes and food.

"One guy came with $500," she said. "But mostly it's been $10 here, $5 there."

She said the bank might negotiate if she had several thousand. I asked her how long she had until the bank needed the money.

"They're waitin' on it now," she said.

I asked her what she would do if she couldn't come up with it.

"We're not gonna talk about that," she said.

Then she had to go. Hungry people where lining up in the yard, she said.