How to help: Madison community comes together to support Abundant Life families
Candlelight vigil planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the state Capitol
In the wake of a school shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison on Tuesday that left three people dead and six injured, members of the Madison community are wondering what they can do to provide support.
Fundraising efforts were already underway Monday evening, led by the Madison Community Foundation and the United Way of Dane County. Money raised from the effort will go to those affected by the incident.
People can contribute to the Abundant Life Christian School Emergency and Recovery Fund by texting Help4ALCS to 40403, calling 608-232-1763, or donating online here.
Ashley Manthei is the communications director for the United Way of Dane County. She said in addition to fundraising efforts, the organization is on standby to help the community recover.
“Obviously we’re all forever changed by this tragedy, but we’re here to help neighbors through this difficult time,” she said. “If there’s one thing we know about our Dane County community is that it’s strong and we step up when others need help.”
Manthei encouraged people to call the United Way’s 24-7 call center at 211. They connect people with a variety of resources from mental health support to warm clothes to meals.
“We host the largest database of resources in Dane County,” Manthei said. “So we encourage people who are looking for help to call 211 and we can get people connected to the resources that will actually help them … if you need help, reach out, you know you’re not alone.”
The City of Madison put together a webpage with resources and information related to the incident at cityofmadison.com/resources.
An alumni group associated with Abundant Life Christian School is also collecting donations. In a post on Facebook, alumn Adam Rostad wrote that he had received messages from across the country of people wanting to help.
Rostad graduated from Abundant Life in 2006. His grandfather started the school in 1978 and was the lead pastor at what is now called City Church.
He told WPR the last 24 hours have been surreal. Rostad still knows teachers at the school and has close friends with kids enrolled there.
“For us [alumni], we can close our eyes and be there in vivid, intimate detail,” he said. “Everybody has said it’s different when it’s so close to home, and yes, that’s totally true. But this is so close to home in a way that, like, I can’t even describe.”
Now Rostad is hoping to provide meals to support the families and faculty at Abundant Life. He has an online sign-up sheet for people to donate gift cards. As of Tuesday afternoon nearly 100 people had signed up.
“I would really love to see families from ALCS not have to worry about where food is coming from for a couple months,” he said.
“Community is this powerful, powerful thing. And you find community within the stories that we share with one another.” Rostad added. “And right now, there’s a lot of people carrying around a pretty tragic story from this week, at the very least, I can show up with a meal and be an ear to hear their story and help find community in that space with them.”
Vigils give community chance to come together
Lake Edge Lutheran Church held a candlelight vigil Monday evening. That church is less than 2 miles from Abundant Life.
Pastor Justin Dittrich said it was clear from the event that his church won’t forget the shooting.
“This community was full of people calling around to coworkers or neighbors that work at the school to make sure that everybody was OK,” Dittrich told WPR. “Those hours or minutes that tick by, and they don’t hear from someone … just heightens all the memories and trauma that goes along with it.”
He said next, he wants action.
“A prayer vigil is not a solution,” Dittrich said. “It is an opportunity to go towards a solution.”
He said that solution should be holistic — from gun management, to mental health and awareness to school preparedness.
Another prayer service will be held Tuesday night from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at City Church, the church affiliated with Abundant Life.
In a post on their website, the church said the service will be live-streamed both online and at High Point Church on the west side of Madison.
A candlelight vigil led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dane County is planned for Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. at the state Capitol by the Vel Phillips Statue.
Michael Johnson is the CEO and president of the organization. He told WPR that in times of tragedy, it’s important to lean on one another.
“Sometimes you just got to bring the community together to heal,” he said. “And I really want the focus tonight to be about the kids and their wellbeing and what we will do collectively as a community to support them.”