26 candles, 26 names, and 26 pictures of smiling faces. All to remember the Victims of last weeks tragic shooting in Newtown Connecticut. "No matter where you're at pretty much everybody does care about what's going on in Newtown right now," said Mike McNeff, one of the organizers of Christmas for Connecticut, a fundraiser held at the Blarney Stone Saturday. "Half of it is like a toy drive where we're asking people to bring in unwrapped presents," said McNeff. The other half is raising money from donations and proceeds from the Blarney Stone. All of it, the toys and the money, will be given to the victims families in Connecticut, for funerals, memorials, and future counseling. "We just want them to know we're with them. We're thinking of them daily, nightly," said Linda Knepper, who donated a lot of movies and toys to the event.
Across Michiana in Elkhart Halftime Sports Bar was setting up for their own fundraiser, a benefit show featuring several bands. "Anytime something really tragic like this happens it reminds us of why we need to come to each others aid," said Wayne Russell with Halftime Sports Bar. They'll be collecting donations and money from a cover charge and raffles Saturday night. It's going to funds set up by the Red Cross and United Way to help the victims families.
And there's a reason all these people are organizing fundraisers and donating to them, the tragedy really hit home because they all have children. "I have children and it really reminds you of how fragile life is," said Russell.
So they just want to show Newtown that even though they're hundreds of miles away, they're here for them.
The Fundraiser at the Blarney Stone was from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday December 22nd. If you missed it you can still donate money. Visit the events Facebook Page to learn how to donate at either First Source Bank or through Paypal.
The Fundraiser at Halftime Sports starts at 10 p.m. Saturday December 22nd and lasts until 2:30 a.m. They will also be hosting another fundraiser for the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting on January 5th. The one will feature more bands and start at 7:30 p.m.
