NEW MILFORD — Janet Gregory remembered how her daughter Elena would not think twice about helping someone who needed assistance.

"My daughter always tried to help a friend in need," Gregory said. "Whether it was bringing food from my house to someone who didn't have a place to stay or seeing someone homeless outside a Walgreens and go inside and buy them a quart of water."

Her only child died in April at the age of 19 at her aunt's home in Bergenfield.

Elena Gregory's "Arms Wide Open" Fund was created in her memory to help others in need by supporting mental health awareness and substance abuse recovery.

Janet Gregory said the fund, started by the Hackensack-based Harwood Lloyd law firm, where she works, has brought in $14,500, with money going to nonprofits based in South Jersey — the Adam O'Brien Foundation in Marlton and Stop the Heroin in Pleasantville — that work with people recovering from addiction. Also, a $1,000 scholarship was awarded by the fund to a college-bound student in financial need from New Milford High School, which her daughter attended.

She said there are plans to sponsor pizza dinners with the nonprofit Good Grief, a bereavement support group based in Morristown and Princeton, and finance the rescuing and training of dogs to become emotional support animals.

While Gregory did not disclose how her daughter died, she said Elena had her challenges over the years.

"Ever since I can remember, she had separation anxiety from when she was an infant. I couldn't even turn my back on her or she would have a fit," Gregory said. "She went to school and she had school anxiety, and it would rear its ugly head. She would get through a few years, and then it would seem pretty good and she would get over the anxiety."

"Switch to middle school and it would start all over again. Switch to high school, it was the worst," Gregory said. She also said her daughter suffered from panic attacks.

But Gregory said despite these obstacles, her daughter was involved in activities like cheerleading and Girl Scouts, and played the violin and softball for a number of years, although less so in high school.

And Gregory recalled her daughter never lost her sense of humor.

"She would make me laugh every single day," Gregory said through tears. "She would go out and every 15-20 minutes she would text me something funny."

Gregory said the fund has helped her and husband, Anthony, cope with the loss of Elena. What has also helped is the testimonials from Elena's friends.

"So many people said after she passed away that she stuck by them, that if they had problems, she would be their big defenders, she would always be supportive to them," Gregory said. "She definitely wanted to help others, and that's why we feel so strongly about helping others through this fund."

Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com