A Sawyer family organizes a drive to help children affected by this week's murder-suicide incident
MARQUETTE COUNTY -- The thought of losing your parents just two weeks before Christmas is a nightmare, but it's a reality for the four children of Brooklyn and Roy Neal, who died in a murder-suicide earlier this week in K.I. Sawyer.
Now, the community is coming together to help make the holidays a little better for the family in the midst of their tragedy. It's a story about the kindness of strangers. When Randy and Amanda Simmons heard about the tragedy that took place just a few blocks away from their home, they wanted to help.
"Well, after we heard about the incident that happened, we really had a hard time sleeping, and we decided that it would be nice to help out the children," says Randy.
"I just can't even imagine what any of those kids and the whole family are going through. We just knew that we needed to reach out and do something," says Amanda.
That's why they started organizing a Secret Santa drive to collect food, toys, and household items for the four kids of Brooklyn and Roy Neal, who are left with nothing after this week's murder-suicide.
Since starting their efforts, Amanda and Randy have had phone calls pouring in with people asking to help.
The Facebook page Amanda set up to get the word out has more than 100 fans.
But Forsyth Township Police Chief Tim Rector, who has been in touch with the family throughout the incident, says he's not surprised by the outpouring of support.
"Whenever there's a problem, being in a small area like this, where just about everybody knows everybody, when something happens, the community pulls together and they try and help out," says Chief Rector.
And Brooklyn's family, which has taken the four kids in, expressed their gratitude to the community in this statement:
"On behalf of the Houghton family, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for all the love and support you have shown our family through donations and through the Secret Santa efforts since Brooke's passing. You will never know how much this means to us! We are grateful to live in such a wonderful community."
If you'd like to donate to the drive, you can head to the Secret Santa Facebook page or read the information below on the children and where to drop off presents.
_________________________
If you are able to give, please wrap the gift. Also, if the gift is for a certain child, please mark the gift with the child's age and gender.
9 yr. old female: Size 9 in pants. Size 3 girls shoes. She is in need of underpants and socks. She likes Brats, Pillowpets, boy Barbies.
10 yr. old female: Pant size 12-14. Shirt size Large. Shoe size 3 in girls. She is in need of snow pants. She likes jewelry, Webkinz, Pillowpets, Twilight, Justin Bieber, and her favorite color is purple.
13 yr. old female: 10-12 pants. Medium shirt. Size 6 women's shoes. She likes polka dots, cats, hockey, monkeys, and her favorite color is blue.
2 yr. old female: 3T pants and shirts. Size 1 toddler shoes. Size 4 diapers. She likes baby dolls and dress up clothes.
4 yr. old male: 5T pants and shirts. 10 ½-11 shoes. Boys Pull-ups size 4. He likes tools, Tonka trucks, sports, soldiers and likes the colors blue and red.
Food donations are also being taken as well as household items ( hand soap, cleaning supplies, paper towls etc.).
__________________________
Items can be dropped off at the following locations:
Tailwinds Bar and Grill, KI Sawyer
800 E. State Highway M94, Gwinn, MI 49841
A trusted friend of the family
313 Rock St, Negaunee
Please leave donations in enclosed entryway.
Evangelical Covenant Church
120 O'Dill Road
Norway, Michigan 49870
Lake Superior Christian Church
393 Michigan 553, Marquette, MI 49855.
Items can also be picked up in Marquette County. Please call (906) 458-8851 for pick ups.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forWLUC