Five girls were killed and five seriously injured when the gunman entered the Bart Township school on Oct. 2, shooting them all before killing himself.
The Amish community formed the Nickel Mines Accountability Committee, comprised of seven Amish leaders and two non-Amish members, to manage all the financial gifts and other donations that started flooding the Bart Township community.
In addition to medical and counseling services, committee spokesman Herman Bontrager said they expected to apply the funds to transportation costs for the victims and their families, as well as to rehabilitation, long-term disability costs and modifications to their homes.
Excess funds will be used in the Amish community, for the local volunteer services groups that helped the victims on the day of the shooting, and for health-service providers, Bontrager said in a public statement.
Across Lancaster County, various groups — from school children to motorcycle riders — have held fundraising events, sold chicken barbecues or donated cash for the families.
Banks and stores have also been receiving donations, not only for the Amish families who were affected by the shooting, but also for the widow and three young children of the shooter, Charles Roberts IV.
On Monday, Wawa Inc. announced that it had presented a check for $11,217 to the Nickel Mine School Victims’ Fund.
The company raised $6,217 through collections at its five Lancaster County convenience stores and then made a $5,000 additional contribution.
According to the Web site for the Anabaptist Foundation, donations from around the world had totaled $1,304,547 by Oct. 31.
The Mennonite Disaster Service has received $540,000 to date in the United States alone, according to Ron Gunther.
In addition, the Mennonite Central Committee reportedly received $277,637 in donations as of Friday, according to Brad Fair.
Capital BlueCross pledged $500,000 and The James Hale Steinman and John F. Steinman Foundations made a $10,000 contribution.
Also, an Oct. 27 benefit performance of “Amish Vows in Paradise” at Freedom Chapel Dinner Theatre in Christiana raised more than $2,800. Actors and staff donated their services and all funds went to the Nickel Mines School Victims Fund.
The evening included a book signing by Lancastrian Sandie Munro, author of children’s novel “Karlee’s Other Family,” set in the Lancaster County Amish community. Proceeds from her book sales also went to the fund.
CONTACT US: jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026
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