I don't think LW's goal was ever to help Sal; if it were, transferring the money as asked would have been the obvious way to do it, you're right. I think LW's goal was to put on a dramatic public performance of Magnanimous Savior and Best Grandma Ever, using Sal as an excuse (there's no indication that Sal actually *asked* for LW's Facebook fundraising).
The Facebook friends played along and showered her with praise and money, but Sal didn't follow the script - Sal didn't drop everything and grovel with gratitude, or send messages to LW's friends to affirm how awesome LW is. LW feels like she was OWED that performance and has been horribly wronged. She is so deep in this delusion that I don't think she even noticed that she admitted to stealing money and defrauding her friends in her letter.
LW has, at this point, done nothing at all for Sal except harass them and taunt them with the possibility of money (which was conditional from the start - I doubt this is the first time Sal has been on this ride, which is why they're keeping their distance and refusing to engage). But facts are irrelevant to LW: in her head, she is firmly cast as the Selflessly Generous Grandmother, and Sal as the Ungrateful Child who needs to be punished for misbehaving. So to her, giving Sal the money (which was collected in the name of and intended for Sal!) would be rewarding disrespect, rather than... doing what she publicly promised her friends she would do.
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The Facebook friends played along and showered her with praise and money, but Sal didn't follow the script - Sal didn't drop everything and grovel with gratitude, or send messages to LW's friends to affirm how awesome LW is. LW feels like she was OWED that performance and has been horribly wronged. She is so deep in this delusion that I don't think she even noticed that she admitted to stealing money and defrauding her friends in her letter.
LW has, at this point, done nothing at all for Sal except harass them and taunt them with the possibility of money (which was conditional from the start - I doubt this is the first time Sal has been on this ride, which is why they're keeping their distance and refusing to engage). But facts are irrelevant to LW: in her head, she is firmly cast as the Selflessly Generous Grandmother, and Sal as the Ungrateful Child who needs to be punished for misbehaving. So to her, giving Sal the money (which was collected in the name of and intended for Sal!) would be rewarding disrespect, rather than... doing what she publicly promised her friends she would do.