UPDATE: March 12, 10:30 a.m. - As donations to the GoFundMe have slowed — but continue to trickle in — additional local businesses have heeded the call for support via several new initiatives.
From Friday through Sunday, Blueprint Brewing Company in Towamencin Township will donate 10% of all sales to the Serrano family. Food trucks on location will also provide 10% of all sales, and the brewery will temporarily serve as a care package drop off location from March 12 through March 14.
Additionally, fundraising organizers have partnered with Scent and Sip in Lansdale Borough to create the "Hope Springs Eternal Serrano Family Spring Candle," which is available for $25 both online and in-store. Half of each purchase will be donated to the Serrano family, organizers said.
“We decided to get involved because [the Serrano family are] not only our close friends, but a blessed part of our families,” said 46-year-old Lori Ann Spallina, of Hatfield, and 44-year-old Liz Vazquez, in a joint statement provided to North Penn Now.
On Monday night, the Serrano family faced a horrific situation in discovering that their eldest son had allegedly stabbed his younger brother and sister at the Oak Park Elementary playground. The following day, the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office released the name of the teen suspect while also announcing that he would be charged as an adult for attempted murder, aggravated assault and related offenses.
In the hours that followed the announcement of charges and the relationship between the accused and the victims, family friends, acquaintances and community members took to social media pledging their support while looking to provide ways to aid in the family in their time of need.
In stepped Spallina and Vazquez.
The duo said they have been in direct contact with the family regarding their desire to seek and provide assistance to the family, and they have since received the go-ahead from a family member. Their effort begins with a GoFundMe fundraiser seeking $100,000 for the family, which will be used to cover medical expenses, their mortgage, therapy for the victims and other associated expenses, according to the organizers. [Click here to donate.]
In less than an hour after launch, the fundraiser had already pulled in nearly $5,000. All proceeds will go directly to the family.
In addition to the online fundraiser, Spallina and Vazquez said they intend to begin a meal-train effort once the family is ready, and non-perishable care packages for the two victims — ages 13 and 9 — will also be accepted shortly.
Spallina said she had spoken with Lansdale Mayor Garry Herbert, in an effort to provide a location where the care packages can be safely dropped off. Once the location has been determined and the packages will be accepted, we will update this article to provide those details.
As additional efforts from the community are announced, we will continue to add them to this article. In the interim, click here to learn more about the fundraiser.
See also:
Juvenile Stabbing Suspect Identified, Charged With Attempted Murder Of 2 Siblings
Teen Brother Accused Of Stabbing 2 Siblings At Playground At Oak Park Elementary Monday Night
2 Teens Stabbed While At Playground At Oak Park Elementary
Police Confirm 1 Dead Following Shooting At Our Town Bowling Alley In East Norriton
Lansdale Police Arrest Juvenile Male Following Physical Assault With What Appeared To Be A Firearm
