AUSTIN, Texas — An outpouring of support has surrounded the Uvalde, Texas, community with millions of dollars raised for families of the slain and surviving victims of the Robb Elementary shooting that left 21 people dead and 17 others injured.
In the small town of Uvalde, made up of about 16,000 people, coming together to support friends and loved ones has always been part of the culture. Now, as the world watches the community mourn, the support also has come from outside the primarily Latino community through GoFundMe donations and other online efforts.
In total, over $5.5 million dollars have been raised, as of Sunday evening.
Among the largest pool of donations has been to the family of Joe and Irma Garcia, with more than $2.5 million raised. Irma Garcia was one of two teachers killed in Tuesday’s shooting. Just two days later, her husband, Joe, died of a heart attack.
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The two had been married for more than 20 years and had four children.
The page is being run by Debra Austin, one of Irma’s cousins, and will benefit the couple’s four children, according to the website.
“I would like to thank all the donors worldwide that have contributed to these wonderful kids,” the organizers wrote on the GoFundMe page Sunday morning. “The prayers and love and support you have sent are so very much appreciated and needed as they continue their journey through life without their mother and father. .”
GoFundMe campaigns for victims
At least 21 other GoFundMe pages are circulating online, all of which have been verified by the crowdfunding platform to help prevent scammers from taking advantage of the tragedy.
Pages have been set up for Eva Mireles, the second of two teachers killed on Tuesday, and students (click the link to view their GoFundMe page): Amerie Jo Garza, Alithia Ramirez, Tess Mata, Nevaeh Bravo, Xavier Lopez, Jayce Luevanos, Eliahna Torres, Maite Rodríguez, Jailah Silguero, Makenna Lee Elrod, Alexandria Rubio, Rojelio Torres, Layla Salazar and Eliahna Garcia.
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A few of the pages also include funds for medical, physical and counseling needs for surviving victims, including fourth grade teacher Arnulfo Reyes, who was severely injured while protecting his students, and students: Kendall Olivarez, Miah Cerrillo and Noah Orona.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have also been raised by other verified GoFundMe pages for the Uvalde community.