Community Corner

Cash Collections Sprout Up In Newtown

Volunteers hope to collect $10,000 by the end of the day Sunday. All donations will be distributed to the victims of Friday's shooting.

A group of volunteers calling themselves "Santas for Sandy Hook" have been out on Newtown's streets this weekend, raising money to support the victims of Friday's shooting.

What started as a small group setting up tables quickly grew to about 25 volunteers, said Zoe Walter, who was with Kay Donohuy and Kristen Brassard at a table in front of Starbucks on Church Hill Road. Walter said the group hopes to raise $10,000 for the victims by the end of the weekend.

"Anything we can do to help," said Donohuy, who grew up in Newtown. 

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Volunteers said people have been anxious to help, one table received $1,000 in donations in four hours.

"Some guy gave me $100 and said 'I wish I could do more'," said Walter. Another man poured out the contents of his wallet, giving everything he had.

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Walter said collecting the donations has helped with the healing process, which is sure to be difficult for everyone moving forward.

"We are broken, we are going to be in shambles for a very long time," she said. 

The donations will be given to the Newtown Savings Bank later this week, Walter said. The bank will be working with the United Way to distribute the money to the victims.


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