OT but needs posting......unbelievable testament to forgiveness and to the human spirit.
We open our hearts & wallets (truly amazing and inspiring article)
Lancaster Online ^ | Oct 07, 2006 | Janet Kelley And Chad Umble
local.lancasteronline.com
From quilt auctions and chicken barbecues here to donations from around the world, people unite to support Amish.
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA - Lancaster County residents have turned their thoughts to helping and healing the shattered families of the Amish school shooting.
Donations are coming in from around the world to help the victims carry the financial burdens resulting from Monday’s tragedy in Bart Township.
Hundreds of people came to the Christiana Fire Company’s annual auction Friday night and early this morning, offering to pay a little extra, knowing that some of the money would be helping the Amish families.
Another event, scheduled for three weeks from now solely to benefit the Nickel Mines families fund, has already had to be moved to a larger venue because of the overwhelming support from around the country.
The Mennonite Disaster Service reportedly has received more than $60,000 in contributions from as far away as Argentina, Africa and Europe — again with the hopes of helping the families in any way.
The Amish community — quick to forgive the man who caused this heartache, Charles Carl Roberts IV — has also been quick to care for the shooter’s family, asking that a portion of any money raised be shared with Roberts’ widow and three small children.
And today, the 32-year-old Roberts, who shot himself after shooting the 10 little girls, was to be buried after private funeral services.
Suicide notes indicate Roberts was tormented by the death of an infant daughter and haunted by a belief — real or imagined — that he molested two children 20 years ago and had dreams of doing it again. His family said they know nothing about such an incident.
Representatives of the Amish victims’ families, who have already met with the Roberts family to share messages of forgiveness, planned to attend to show their support, friends said.
On Friday, the last of the five murdered children, Anna Mae Stoltzfus, 12, was buried. The other four, Naomi Rose Ebersol, 7, Marian S. Fisher, 13, Mary Liz Miller, 8, and her little sister, Lena Z. Miller, 7, were all buried Thursday.
Their five classmates, wounded in the shooting, remain hospitalized.
Three, including Fisher’s 12-year-old sister, Barbie, are being treated at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Barbie Fisher is reportedly in serious condition, while two others, ages 8 and 10, are in critical condition.
Two more girls, ages 6 and 13, are being treated at Hershey Medical Center. The younger girl was removed from life support and taken home to die, but returned to the hospital when she showed signs of improvement.
A member of the Amish community said today that plans had not been finalized about the demolition and rebuilding of the one-room yellow schoolhouse.
This morning, the valley along White Oak Road was quiet and empty, except for a policeman guarding the boarded-up school. A few children, walking in the drizzling rain, placed flowers and teddy bears at a makeshift memorial at a nearby intersection.
In addition to prayers for the recovery of five wounded girls, others have turned their attention to helping the families with their financial needs.
Christiana Fire Company raised money in typical Lancaster County fashion, by selling quilts and homemade crafts, as well as selling barbecue chicken and other items.
While the event is held annually to earn money to support the fire company, organizers plan to donate all the proceeds from Friday’s annual chicken barbecue to the Amish families, as well as some from today’s auction.
Ben Stoltzfus, a fire company member and trustee, said the chicken barbecue raised “several thousand dollars” for the Amish victims.
He said many customers were overpaying for chicken since they knew it was going to the Amish victims.
“That was happening all over the place,” he said.
During today’s auction, half the proceeds from the sale of two quilts will go to the victims’ families. The donated quilts could typically be expected to sell for up to $400, but Stoltzfus expected they would go for much more today.
Other auction items include antiques, crafts and flowers. The auction is the largest fundraiser for the fire company.
A similar event, designated as the Nickel Mine Community BBQ and scheduled for three weeks from now, on Saturday, Oct. 28, solely for the purpose of raising money for the families involved, has already been relocated because of overwhelming response.
The barbecue will now be held at Paradise Community Park, 6 Londonvale Road, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Organizer Ron Stoltzfus, of Paradise, said he originally planned to assemble 500 chicken dinners, but now says he’ll make 3,000. Local businesses, as well as some from out of the area, have agreed to donate supplies, including baked goods, drinks, paper products and charcoal, he said.
“It is just overwhelming how it started out as a little tiny barbecue and turned into something huge. It just shows that people in our community care,” he said.
Stoltzfus said he even received a call from a woman in Florida who said she will be sending a donation.
Stoltzfus, who owns a small barbecuing business, said he expected the fundraiser could now bring in more than $20,000. At the request of the Amish families, a quarter of the proceeds will go to the Roberts family.
For more information or advance tickets, call 587-9485.
Fulton Bank announced Friday it is accepting donations to benefit the families of both the shooter and Amish victims at all branch locations.
The Roberts Children Benefit Fund will help provide counseling and ongoing support, as well as help with living expenses. Roberts was the sole source of income for his family.
In addition to the Roberts Children benefit, donations also are being accepted for the Amish School Recovery Fund, established jointly by the Mennonite Central Committee and the Mennonite Disaster Service.
Several other area banks are accepting donations, including Bank of Lancaster County, Ephrata National Bank, Hometowne Heritage Bank and Susquehanna Bank.
Turkey Hill Minit Markets across Pennsylvania and Wal-Mart stores in Lancaster County will be setting up coin-drops for donations to be distributed to the Amish victims’ families. Earlier, Wal-Mart paid for the food and non-perishable items for the families’ funerals.
The Mennonite Disaster Service and the Anabaptist Foundation, two agencies collecting funds for the people impacted by the shooting, said they have had a tremendous response.
Calls and donations have come in from around the world, from as far away as Africa, South America and Europe, according to representatives,
Both organizations have Web sites that detail how to make contributions. They are: Mennonite Disaster Service (www.mds.mennonite.net) and Anabaptist Foundation (www.afweb.org). |
