Should I accept financial charity help from a stranger?

[TheSadWife]

I’m a recent widow. My husband was well known in the business community.

An MD that owns their own (highly successful nationwide) business in the same trade as my husband, wishes to gift me a small amount of money after a post I made asking how to write invoices for customers who still hadn’t paid after his death. He’s looked at my social media posts and seen me and the kids are struggling, and just wants to offer his sympathy and help a fellow business colleague.

He talks about his own wife and family and remarked that he hoped someone would look out for them one day too.

although I don’t know him personally, I know of him through the trade and he’s well thought of and genuine. It is a totally genuine offer.

it’s a few hundred pounds, and that would help so much because me and the kids were left with nothing no property, no monies, nothing.

I don’t know how to accept, or if I even should, and if I did how on earth do I phrase the kind acceptance to him, it’s such a mind blowing gesture I don’t know how to word it.

Is it wrong? My husband was always doing things like this for others, for example not charging for work done for people just starting out in business, or if he knew they were single parents, that kind of thing.

I just don’t know what to do. Please can you help advise me? I’ve never been in this situation before.

thankyou

Hi. He was self employed so wouldn’t have had a death in service benefit.

final update :

I did accept in the end based on the poll here and the comments and advice all of which I read.

I also messaged to ask if I could call and speak ‘in person’ to thank him because it felt too ‘transactional’ otherwise.
Luckily he was ok with that and same generation as me so used to speaking on the phone rather than texts. We had a lovely talk about many things and I explained where the money would help (it was just under three hundred pounds) and that I would pay it forward one day too.
I also reassured him that someone would always look out for his wife too if and when the time came.

The money is going to pay for my eldest’s driving lessons for the next few couple of months. Something I can afford, but was always a balancing act against the gas and electric bill, and some months the lessons had to pause because of that. My child has severe anxiety issues - the driving lessons will give them much needed hope and eventually independance.

Thankyou so much to everyone who took time to comment.

You husband left you with nothing? I'd say go for it

That. I turned down a kind offer from someone, and I wish I hadn't. I think they were disappointed. It was something they really wanted to do.

I'm a 'probably not', unless there's was also some sort of legal letter specifying the lack of conditions attached to the offer. I wish you well whatever you choose, and sorry for your loss @TheSadWife.

I think this sums it up perfectly.

I am sorry for your loss. Apologies if it’s already been suggested, there is something called the Bereavement Support Payment which you may be eligible to apply for. Also worth a chat to an advice agency; your local council should also have a cost of living page (or similar). Hope your done enjoys the driving lessons.

The bereavement support payment, is money you can claim, also as you have children, you can claim the widowed parent allowance too.
WAY widowed And Young, for people widowed under the age of 50.
You'd get lots of advice and support on there.
It helps to have somewhere to turn where everyone understands what it’s like when your life partner dies.
They have loads of zoom meet ups and loads of extra groups you can join.
they have a fund to cover membership costs of those who are struggling.

Everyone needs help for many reasons during their life, it’s ok to ask for help.