Donations pouring in

Published 10:32 am Thursday, March 12, 2009

Donations are pouring in for the families of victims in the shooting spree that left 10 people in Coffee and Geneva counties dead Tuesday.

WAAO is raising money with a road block in front of their East Three Notch Street location today. At 10 a.m., Andrea Wilson estimated that as much as $10,000 has been received for the families of victims.

In addition, Phillip Gilmer of Mobile has donated caskets for all of the victims. The caskets will be built at Covington Casket in Andalusia. Gilmer then plans to bill the Victims Compensation Fund for the caskets and donate the proceeds to the fund drive.

Gilmer, who owns a Mobile funeral home, is the husband of Andalusia native Sally Bass Gilmer and aunt of WAAO owner Blaine Wilson.

WAAO will continue to collect donations throughout the day. Checks should be made to the Geneva County Sheriff’s Office and marked for the Covington and Geneva counties Victims Fund.

In addition, Lester’s Auto Salvage has contributed $500 toward tombstones for the victims.

WAAO also is serving food for anyone who wants to stop buy. Betty Mancil volunteered to coordinate food for the effort, and secured donations from Pizza Hut, Little Ceasar’s, Steamboat, Piggly Wiggly, Church’s, McDonalds, Rite Aid, and David’s Catfish. CJ’s Grille is donating 10 percent of today’s sales to the effort.