Today at work,
we had a fundraiser to collect donations for Officer Pearson and his family.
The fundraiser included Chili with all the fixings, drinks, and desserts. There
was a minimum $1 donation required to eat. Some people donated as much as $1000
each. It was a nice social event to raise money for an officer shot while on
duty.
This
fundraiser got me thinking. We raise money for people making front page news.
All around Springfield, businesses are collecting donations for this one
family. What about the other officers that have been hurt? Where was their
celebration and party? How are their families coping with their lives when an
on the job tragedy affected them? In order to get funds raised or help during
this hard time, is it all in who you know?
I have heard that the city of
Springfield's workers' compensation plan is paying Officer Pearson's salary and
medical bills, but the money raised by the community will be used for long-term
care and support for the family. He will need future medical treatment. They
also said that he will never be an active duty police officer again due to the
brain injury he sustained from the gunshot to the face.
I do
understand he has a 3 year old and an 8 month old child. His wife will have to
take care of him and the 2 children. I am all for helping others in my
community. I just wish that we would spread the support for families of
tragedies. Make a fund set up for families and assist them in their time of
need. Maybe make it feel like it is more fair and that one event is not more important
than another’s. Encourage families to “be a good neighbor”. I just hope we help
more people and not just the front page news stories.
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