How to help Uvalde families after the Texas school shooting
While Uvalde, Texas, and beyond are still reeling from the second-deadliest school shooting in U.S. history, many people are pondering the same question: What can I do to help?
The community is looking for blood donations, and funds for victims’ families. Here’s what you can do to help:
Pray for the community
It may be a struggle to find the words, but we can still unite ourselves with the bereaved and broken-hearted in Uvalde.
Set aside a moment of prayerful silence to “dwell” with the victims of the senseless and horrific school shooting: the 19 children and 2 adults who were killed, their devastated families and friends who now struggle to go on while bearing the unimaginable, and the devastated community of Uvalde.
Pray for teachers, who must pretend that everything is “normal” as they educate young children this week.
Pray for parents who are nervous and anxious because 19 innocent youngsters were killed at school. Pray for the shooter’s grandmother, who is fighting for her life, and for our country as we look for constructive ways forward.
Support verified fundraisers
Organizations such as the San Antonio Salvation Army food truck is offering snacks and spiritual care to those at the scene.
GoFundMe has established an online hub of verified fundraisers supporting victims and loved ones affected by the shooting, which you can find here.
The school district in Uvalde has opened an official account with First State Bank of Uvalde to support Robb Elementary families affected by the tragedy.
People can send checks through the mail (payable to the “Robb School Memorial Fund”) or donate money through Zelle to robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com.
People can also donate directly to a Uvalde Victims Relief Fund created by University Health, for example.
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) has created a fund for victims and survivors, and says 100% of contributions will go directly to their families.
Donate blood
If you’re local, University Health System — the largest transfuser of blood in the San Antonio area — is encouraging community members to donate blood to hospitals and centers. People nearby are urged to visit DonateBloodToday.com.
Share resources for families
Belong, a division of SJRC Texas, a nonprofit that cares for children and families that have faced trauma, put together a list of resources for those affected by the Uvalde shooting, including financial, medical, mental health and grief support services.
Donate to a funeral fund
Two local funeral homes have said they won’t charge victims’ family members for funeral services. Donations are being collected for the funeral funds of the students who were killed, including Xavier Lopez, Jayce Luevanos, Jailah Silguero, Tess Marie Mata, Alithia Ramirez, Makenna Lee Elrod, Ellie Garcia, and Nevaeh Bravo.
You can also donate to the funeral fund of Eva Mireles, a fourth-grade teacher who taught at Robb Elementary and leaves behind a husband and daughter, and the funeral fund for Irma Garcia, another fourth-grade teacher who taught at Robb for 23 years.
On Thursday, Garcia’s husband, Joe, reportedly suffered a fatal heart attack; you can donate to a separate fund for the Garcia family here, organized by one of Irma’s cousins.
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