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How to Help Families Affected by Newtown, CT School Shooting

People all over the world want to know how to help Sandy Hook residents following Friday's horrifying mass shooting.

By Jaimie Cura
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December 18, 2012

21 Comments

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The scene Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

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The scene Friday at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Credit Gary Jeanfaivre

Family members of victims in the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., that left at least 27 dead.

Credit Gary Jeanfaivre

Newtown Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, in the background, was among officials at a press conference at Treadwell Park in Newtown on Dec. 14, 2012, in the wake of a shooting at Sandy Hook School that claimed the life of 26, including 20 children.

Credit Gary Jeanfaivre

Newtown resident Liz Bogdanoff consoles her daughter, Julia, 13, during a vigil at St. John's Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook, Conn., on Dec. 15, 2012.

Credit Gary Jeanfaivre

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In the wake of the unimaginable tragedy at Sandy Hook School Friday people from all over the world—in Connecticut, California, Canada and much farther away in Australia and India—sent an outpouring of support and want to know how they can help.

If you want to be notified via email of ways to provide comfort and support during this difficult time, please post in the comments section: "I want to help."

Patch will continue to update this article with ways to help — posting updates to the story as well as in the comments thread, triggering an email notification to commenters — and if you know of an organization or fundraiser providing assistance, let us know in the comments section, too.

Already the United Way of Western Connecticut, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund to help provide support services to the families and community that are affected.

Check donations may be mailed to:

Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT 06470

If you have questions on the fund, you may call 800-461-0672.

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A former Sandy Hook Elementary School student named Ryan Kraft, also a longtime neighbor of the Lanza family, posted a Local Voices blog on Newtown Patch saying he set up a fund to help heal his community.

The link to the fund site is here — crowdrise.com/SHSRelief — and according to Kraft, all monies are directed toward the school's PTSA organization.

The funds are directed to the school's PTSA organization. Please help in any way you can.

Here is the link to the fund site:

crowdrise.com/SHSRelief

The funds are directed to the school's PTSA organization. Please help in any way you can.

Helpful Links

Victims Relief Fund set up by former SHS student and Lanza family neighbor
United Way's Sandy Hook Support Fund Announcement
Checks may also be dropped off at any Newtown Savings Bank branch location.
How to Donate With a Credit Card

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More links to Newtown Patch’s coverage here:

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Related Topics: Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook Shootings, and how to help

Is there a message you'd like to send to those families affected? Tell us in the comments.

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

Mark Reynolds

7:57 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I want to help

Marcy Nash

8:38 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

My heart aches for the families and friends of the victims of the shootings. Joel Osteen on ET last night made the comment that we need to pray and then pray some more. I agree.

We will pray and then pray some more…

When we woke up this morning, you were here
Your beautiful face aglow with happiness
The winter sky held the hope of tomorrow
And the promise of more life not less

But life has a way of changing
What we believe to be just and right
There is no way of knowing this morning
What might be in our lives tonight

Oh, we love you so much, our darling
We held you for only a few years
The present is so, so filled with sadness
And our eyes are overflowing with tears

The dolls, the trucks lay unmoving
On the floor, on the shelf in your room
The clothes are just as you left them
As we struggle today with this gloom

We believe you are with the angels
Your job here on earth is through
There is no doubt we will always remember
And know that we’ll always love you

We will pray to our Father in heaven
To bring peace to each grieving heart
Even though you are now with us is spirit
To our family, you’ll be always a part

It will be hard to grasp understanding
Why you left us in this great abyss
You were innocent of all that is evil
Only wish we could give you a kiss

We will pray tonight and tomorrow
We will pray to the God we adore
We will pray and pray to our Father
We will pray and then pray some more

from Marcy Nash in Oklahoma

Catharine Roberts

8:38 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

My sweet therapy dog, Stella, a yellow lab, would be available to come comfort anyone in need after Jan.1st. She works at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, D.C. with both children and adults. email: etcantiques@aol.com

Karen

8:54 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I want to help

Jenn

11:24 am on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I want to help

Samantha

12:33 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

i want to help.

adam tate emanuel

1:00 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I want to help

courtney eickman

5:43 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

I believe music and art can really help sooth a hurting soul. I run musical play and creative arts parent and child groups. I would be more than happy to run some groups ( free of charge) . I am available tuesday or friday or wekends- peace 4usall

Jamie Dougherty

12:15 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

I want to help!

Alesha Pendell

7:41 am on Wednesday, December 19, 2012

I would like to help, I create memory quilts, using used clothing, blankets and other sentimental pieces of material. I know it is still on everyone's minds but would love to be able to create some quilts for the families using their children's clothing. Not sure how to get to them to ask if it is something they would be interested in (free of charge, of course) any info would be great,