Christmas and Newtown. A few things:
As young students in Kaitlin Roig’s classroom hid in a bathroom while a gunman terrorized their school, they told her they wanted to live and have Christmas, Roig told ABC news in an interview.
Roig’s got them through it, in part, by reassuring them they would see Christmas and the rest of Hanukkah.
Bringing up holidays at a time like that may seem odd, but to a kid, beyond the gifts and religion, the holiday is about reassurance that traditions will continue and loved ones will come together.
For Roig’s class at Sandy Hook Elementary School, life would go on.
But 20 other young students in the school, 6 and 7 years old, would perish in the gunfire.
http://www.minutemannewscenter.com/articles/2012/12/19/fairfield/news/doc50d1f04f5a811486667183.txt
Local Christmas tree memorial for Connecticut shooting victims
SAN DIEGO (CNS) - Christmas trees representing the victims of the Newtown, Conn., school massacre will be set up in Kearny Mesa Thursday, and San Diegans will be invited to decorate them and attend a lighting ceremony.
The 20 miniature and six full-sized trees represent the children and adults killed last Friday.
San Diegans can decorate the trees throughout the day and leave notes or letters, according to organizers of the event. The messages and mementos will be mailed to Newtown.
A lighting ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
The trees will be set up on the front lawn of the San Diego Association of Realtors building, 4845 Ronson Court, in Kearny Mesa.
http://www.cbs8.com/story/20385520/local-christmas-tree-memorial-for-connecticut-shooting-victims
Wisconsinites look for ways to help Newtown, CT
They said the best thing people can do right now is donate money to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.
"There was a donator who has donated Christmas trees to line the driveway of Sandy Hook Elementary and people are bringing ornaments to decorate these trees," said Almeida
As people work to honor victim's memories and mourn their loss, the shooting is bringing families across the country closer.
"I definitely have held on tighter to them, and hugged them more and just kept them much closer," said Rakowski.
With the nation coming together to remember the 26 victims at Sandy Hook Elementary.
If you'd like to donate to the fund, visit the United Way's website: https://newtown.uwwesternct.org/
http://www.waow.com/story/20358248/2012/12/16/wisconsinites-look-for-ways-to-help-newtown-ct
Help from home and across the US for Newtown
So Cayer decided to help. On Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon, he will offer a variety of services for free to those affected by the shooting, including spinal adjustments, chair massages and acupuncture.
He is one of hundreds to step up in the wake of last week's tragedy to offer Newtown and Sandy Hook residents everything from a hot meal to a cup of coffee to counseling services and beyond.
Funeral costs, including caskets for the young victims, have been covered by donations from various vendors, coordinated by the Connecticut Funeral Directors Associations.
Scholarships and memorial funds have sprung up to provide financial support for families affected by the shootings, and people are already giving generously.
Read more: http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Help-from-home-and-across-the-US-for-Newtown-4129135.php#ixzz2FXB60d9J
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