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Organizers seek donations for shooting benefit

By NEWSChannel 2 Staff

Story Created: Mar 19, 2013 at 5:49 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 19, 2013 at 6:05 PM EDT

Materials and food are sought as organizers work to put together a benefit this Sunday for the families of the six victims in last week's shootings in Herkimer and Mohawk.

A benefit will be held at the Crowley-Barnum American Legion Post 25 on West Main Street in Mohawk from Noon - 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 24. However, organizers say that the event has grown so much since initial word first got out, that they've had to split the event among two different venues.

Ed View, Co-Chairman of the the event says that the portion of the event that includes food and live entertainment will remain at the American Legion in Mohawk, but that the response for the Chinese Auction fundraiser has been so great, it now has to be held at Francesca's Banquet Facility on East Main Street in Ilion.

View, who is co-chairing the event with Shawn McGraw, says that donations of food, items for the Chinese Auction, and money will be accepted to help those affected by the shootings. View said that includes the families of the victims, as well as a memorial fund in honor of Ape, the K9 killed protecting his handler when authorities went after the shooting suspect. Money for that fund will go to the Herkimer County Humane Society in Ape's honor, View said.

If you are interested in donating food for the event or items for the Chinese Auction, you are asked to contact Ed View at 315-866-5276 or Shawn McGraw at 315-895-0183.

Monetary donations can be by check and made payable to "Love and Compassion Benefit." Those checks can be mailed to Adirondack Bank, c/o Love and Compassion Benefit, PO Box 590, Herkimer, NY 13350.

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