Over $2.5 Million Raised so Far for Kids Left Orphaned by Uvalde Tragedy – Opinion

There is some good news in the midst of the terrible events at Uvalde (Texas), where over $2.5million has been collected for the four children who were left behind by the shooting. Meanwhile, an anonymous donor offered to pay for funeral costs of 21 people who were killed. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said free mental health services would be provided for any community member who asked.

The Garcia family is one of Uvalde’s most tragic stories. Irma Garcia, a teacher at Robb Elementary School was shot by the gunman as she tried to protect her children. Joe Garcia died two days later of a heart attack. Relatives said Joe “died of a broken heart.”

They leave behind four children, aged 13 through 23.

An online GoFundMe campaign was set up by Irma’s cousin Debra Austin to raise $10,000 for the kids–but has already received more than $2.4 million, proving there is still love and kindness in this world. While it won’t bring their parents back or fix the children’s broken hearts, it will help them survive with one less thing to worry about.

Joe Garcia was the husband Irma Garcia’s, and he died in protecting her children. #UvaldeHe died from a broken heart. They had 4 children, 3 of them teenagers – all of them now orphans. Thank you for donating to GoFundMe. https://t.co/JSRUpE9DxF

— Suketu Mehta (@suketumehta) May 26, 2022

Debra posts on the GoFundMe Page:

Debra Austin is my name. Irma Garcia, my cousin, was one of the teachers who were killed at Robb Elementary, Uvalde (Texas), 5/24/2022. Irma was an amazing woman, mother to four, aunt, cousin, sister, daughter and aunt. She would literally do anything for anybody……no questions asked. She was a great teacher and loved the children in her class. Donate anything that you can to her family. All proceeds go directly to Garcia’s family for different expenses. God bless and thanks for your generosity.

I am equally devasted to report Irma’s husband Joe has tragically passed away this morning(5/26/2022) as a result of a medical emergency. Keep our loved ones in your prayers and thoughts. Joe was truly a man of broken hearts. He lost the love of his entire life for more than 25.

A Robb School Memorial Fund is another website that can be used to make a donation.

An anonymous donor offered $175,000 in exchange for covering the funeral expenses of 21 victims who died that horrible day, which was already mentioned. The donation was announced by Governor Abbott at Friday’s press conference.

“An anonymous donor who attended the meeting and provided $175,000 to ensure that every cost of every family concerning anything about funeral services is going to be taken care of,” he said. ‘No family who is suffering from incalculable heartbreak at this time will have to worry about a single cost with regard to anything concerning this travesty.”

While none of this will bring back the departed or cure our ailing hearts, it’s still nice to see that there’s love, generosity, and caring out there. We are not defined by the evil actions of one individual. Nor is our nation.

Squeeze your kids tight this Memorial Day weekend, and pray for those who can’t.