Fundraiser for fallen officer off to good start
By
Melissa Cabral, WINK News
Story Created:
Jul 20, 2008 at 1:48 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jul 21, 2008 at 10:24 AM EST
FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Southwest Florida community is coming together to help fallen Fort Myers Police Officer Andrew Widman's family.
Day one of the "Drop in the Bucket Campaign" was a big success.
Officers tell us they are well on their way to reaching their $100,000 dollar goal in three days.
Sunday, more than 50 off-duty officers from several law enforcement agencies were standing outside Walmart collecting donations for Officer Widman's wife and three small children.
People are donating whatever they can to help.
Cape Coral Police Officer Bill Columbia says, "I think the community recognizes the ultimate sacrifice that officer Widman paid laying his life down."
Officers will also be out at major intersections throughout Lee County Monday and Tuesday collecting donations.
WINK News has learned some of those intersections are:
- Veterans Parkway and Santa Barbara Boulevard
- Pine Island Road and Del Prado Boulevard
- Del Prado and Cape Coral Parkway
- Pine Island and Santa Barbara Blvd.
Law enforcement wants to stress they will not be doing any kind of door to door, phone, or e-mail solicitation. If you are contacted by anyone claiming to be raising money for Officer Widman it is a SCAM, do not give them any money.
If you're unsure, you can always ask to see the officer's badge.
Tuesday, Jul 22 at 6:56 AM Anonymous wrote ...
Enough. Deepest sympathy to the officer's family, but how much money is the widow getting from life insurance provided by the city, any private life insurance, and Social Security? What about the children who are abandoned and living on meager incomes? Who's collecting money for the 2 kids I'm raising who have no parents and have NOTHING. This is insane!!! So many kids have lost both parents through death or drugs or crime and there is no insurance for them!! No drop in the bucket!
Monday, Jul 21 at 9:54 AM Barb wrote ...
You will find no closer bond than firefighers and police officers. These are families that, unless you have been part of it, you will never understand. I was fortunate to be in public safety communcations for 25 years and the connection is something that cannot be explained.
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