Account set up for husband, children of shooting victim

This morning was the first time Juan Alameda had gone to a bank to open a savings account.

His wife, Melinda Gonzales, used to take care of those kind of things, he said.

Submitted photo

Melinda Gonzales, 30, and one of her four children, Gisila, 3. At the time the photo was taken, the child was 1.

Since the sudden death of his 30-year-old wife, Alameda will have many firsts.

Suddenly his job is not only to earn a living, but to take care of his four children. Alameda said he has always been a man with the ability to support his family, but now he has to be a two-parent figure to his children.

The past week has been filled with countless tears and sadness for Alameda, and his relatives and friends.

The 27-year-old farmworker's thoughts have turned to his financial situation.

Alameda is asking for the community’s support to benefit his four children, Melanie Marie Ortiz, 12, Adrian Ortiz, 6, Gisila Alameda, 3, and Jaylen Alameda, 1½, who lost their mother last week.

Alameda didn’t open a trust account because he needs donations now, he said.

Alameda hopes to raise money through community donations so he can find a new home because his family can no longer live in his old home where his wife, also known as Melly, was shot in the head in a drive-by shooting May 30 in front of their mobile home on Peach Street in Immokalee.

His children were outside playing when they saw their mother being shot.

"I feel weird. I’ve never asked anyone for money," Alameda said. "I don’t want them (donors) to think that I’m bumming off of them."

Currently, the family is living with Alameda’s grandmother in Immokalee.

His brother-in-law, Virgil Reyna, accompanied him on the trip to the bank. Reyna has been emotionally supporting him after Alameda’s wife died.

His mother-in-law and sisters-in-law have been taking care of the children when he is at work.

Alameda, who had been married for more than four years, said he continues to stay strong for his children. He thanked his family and the community, some of which had never meet his wife, who have prayed for her.

The number of the savings account at Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union for the house and the children is 4291994.