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Help Support Victims and Their Families in Uvalde

Association of Texas Professional Educators
Association of Texas Professional Educators

Date Posted: 5/26/2022

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the murder of 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde May 24 was the deadliest school shooting in the state’s history.

People from all over the country are looking for ways to raise money for victims and their families. Support can come in the form of everything from blood donations to financial support for medical and funeral expenses, as well as grief and trauma counseling.

Blood Donations

We Are Blood—a blood center in Austin—and the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center are encouraging donations of blood to support the victims of the Uvalde shooting. O-negative, the universal blood type, is the most-used blood type in emergencies by first responders, though all blood types are needed and will be sent to area hospitals aiding victims.

Funds

  • Uvalde Strong Fund / Uvalde Strong Survivor's Fund - The San Antonio Area Foundation is partnering with the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country to support the community of Uvalde and has created two relief fundsone to benefit the survivors’ families in partnership with National Compassion Fund, and another to support nonprofit organizations providing services. You can make a tax-deductible donation to one or both of these funds here.

    Checks can be made out to “Uvalde Strong Fund” and mailed to: 

    Uvalde Strong Fund 
    Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country 
    241 Earl Garrett Street 
    Kerrville, Texas 78028

  • United with Uvalde Fund - United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County has created the United with Uvalde fund to support the victims’ families and the Uvalde community with immediate and long-term mental health services. The fund will also address any emerging needs identified by their nonprofit partners on the ground in Uvalde now. Support services will be for students, teachers, and families in Uvalde. Funds will be made available to nonprofits with experience and expertise in providing direct mental health services for communities impacted by trauma.

    Tax-deductible donations can be made here, or text UVALDE to 41444 to donate.

  • Robb Elementary Memorial Fund - The First State Bank of Uvalde has set up a memorial account for the families of Robb Elementary. Donations can be made by calling 830-278-6231 or via Zelle to: robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com.

    Checks should be payable to “Robb School Memorial Fund” and mailed to:

    Robb School Memorial Fund
    200 E. Nopal Street
    Uvalde, TX 78001

  • H-E-B is donating $500,000 to aid people in Uvalde through the Spirit of Giving Fund. In addition, customers of H-E-B, Central Market, Joe V’s Smart Shop, and Mi Tienda can donate at checkout or through curbside or home delivery orders. You can also donate on the website.
  • VictimsFirst—a group of survivors of mass school shootings—has started a GoFundMe for Uvalde and is planning to partner with the National Compassion Fund. To learn more and to donate to a fund, visit the National Compassion Fund website here.  
  • GoFundMe.com has created a listing of verified GoFundMe pages offering direct relief to victims of the Uvalde school shooting, including:
    • Please help us put our Xavier to rest—for Xavier Lopez, age 10. From Uvalde Leader-News: "Family members said his favorite subject was art. He played soccer and baseball, and he loved dancing with his family. His mother said in an interview that he was a funny child, never serious, and she would never forget his smile. His grandmother, Amelia Sandoval, said he was the life of the party."
    • Our Precious Angel Makenna Lee Elrod—for Makenna Lee Elrod, age 10. Her aunt Allison McCullough says: "She was beautiful, funny, smart, and amazing. She had the biggest heart and loved her family and friends so much. Her smile would light up a room."
    • Joe & Irma GarciaIrma Garcia's cousin Debra Austin says she was "a wife, a mother of four, a cousin, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, and a wonderful person. She would literally do anything for anybody—no questions asked." Her husband, Joe Garcia, passed away two days after Irma on May 26. Austin adds: "Joe and Irma were amazing people and two of the most loving parents we as a family have ever known. They were so proud of all their kids."
    • Please help us put sweet Jayce to rest—for Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, age 10. From Uvalde Leader-News: "He and his mother resided with his grandfather, Carmelo Quiroz, who said he would brew them a pot of coffee every morning. He enjoyed coloring, and brought friends home to play in his yard, about a block from the school. He had a dog named Fifi."
    • Tess Marie Mata—for Tess Marie Mata, age 10. From Uvalde Leader-News: "She hoped to go to Disney World again, having gone several years ago, and was saving money for the trip. She was a fan of Ariana Grande and the show “Victorious,” as well as a baseball player and fan of the Houston Astros. She played second base, the same as her idol, José Altuve. Her walls were purple, and her grandparents drove her to and from school daily."
    • Alithia Ramirez funeral fund—for Alithia Haven Ramirez, age 10. Ernesto Morales, who organized this fundraiser for Alithia's father, says: "Alithia Ramirez was a very gifted artist. She was always one to care about others. She kept in touch with the family of her best friend during their difficult time when they suffered a tragic loss. She was a loving soul and loved her mom and dad and family."
    • Jailah You will be missed Baby Girl!!!—for Jailah Nicole Silguero, age 10. Nancy Salazar, who organized this fundraiser for Jailah's parents, says: "She had her life ahead of her. She was a delighted, energetic, lovely little girl who loved to make TikTok Videos for friends and family."
    • Texas Elementary School Shooting Victims Fund—from Victims First: "VictimsFirst (a network of families of the deceased and survivors from over two decades of previous mass shootings) started this fund to make sure that 100% of what is collected goes DIRECTLY to the victim base so the victims’ families and those wounded/injured are protected from fraud and exploitation."
    • Robb Elementary School Shooting—from GoFundMe: "Los Verdes Supporter Group (Austin, TX) is raising funds for the families in Uvalde, TX, affected by the horrific school shooting at Robb Elementary."
    • Immediate Necessity Help for Arni—Fourth grade teacher Arnulfo Reyes was injured while protecting his students. Arnulfo's sister Christy Gutierrez says: "If you know him he's the sweetest most lovable person you could ever meet with a big heart! I know he did all he could to protect his students. Any help and prayers would be greatly appreciated. All funds will go to any immediate needs."
    • For Salinas Family—Christopher Salinas' son Samuel was injured in the shooting; he says: "We are raising funds for Samuel's medical expenses and emergency funds for anything he needs during this time. He is in recovery, thankfully. Our goal is to help Samuel get through this tragic time as healthy as possible."
    • Donate to help Miah—Abigale Veloz, Miah Cerrillo's mother, says: "Her classroom was one of the main rooms that got targeted. With that said we are asking if people could please donate to her GoFundMe. She will need a lot of help with all the trauma that she is going through. My daughter is an amazing person and is a very good sister to her siblings. We will need help with her medical expenses that were caused by the bullet fragment in her back."
    • Medical, Physical, Counseling Therapy expenses—Laura Holcek, sister of Noah Orona, says: "Noah endured a gunshot wound that will require physical and motor therapies, along with long-term cognitive care for the mental trauma of the shooting. Your donation will be gratefully used to help him recover from the mental trauma that has left our little guy with trying to comprehend not only his wounds, but witnessing the suffering of his friends, classmates, and his beloved teachers."
    • Kendall Olivarez—Jennifer Olivarez, Kendall's aunt, says: "She is currently hospitalized in San Antonio. She endured a gunshot to her left shoulder and was hit by bullet fragments on her right leg and tailbone. She will be needing several surgeries until she is completely healed."

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