UW Combined Fund Drive

May 26, 2022

School shooting: How to help the Uvalde community

On Tuesday, May 24th, a gunman attacked students inside a fourth-grade classroom at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Uvalde is about 85 miles west of San Antonio and just east of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Nineteen children and two teachers were killed, along with the shooter, who was fatally shot by law enforcement. Several other children were wounded and remain hospitalized.

The shooting was the deadliest school shooting, and the second-largest attack on the Latino community, in Texas history. In 2019, 23 people were killed in a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas.

There are mass shootings on a near-daily basis in the U.S. These events have become so commonplace many of them do not warrant major news coverage.

The victims include Jaliah Nicole Silguero, 10; Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, 10; Jackie Cazares, 10; Uziyah Garcia, 8; Amerie Jo Garza, 10; Xavier Lopez, 10; Alithia Ramirez, 10; Annabell Rodriguez, 10; Eliahana Cruz Torres, student; Rojelio Torres, 10; Irma Garcia, a fourth-grade teacher of 23 years; and Eva Mireles, a fourth-grade teacher of 17 years.

Remembering the victims of the Uvalde elementary school shooting (CNN)

Uvalde now finds itself on the long list of American communities devastated by mass shootings, following the racially-motivated mass shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York ten days earlier. In both Buffalo and Uvalde, the shooters were just 18 years old, the legal age to purchase a gun in the U.S.

Self-care and family resources

Dr. Fred Rivara, the director of the Firearm Injury & Policy Research Program at Harborview Medical Center and a professor of pediatrics at UWMC, has more than 30 years of experience researching injury prevention. In this video, Dr. Rivara offers thoughts about gun laws and how adults can talk to children.

Dr. Rivara, along with experts with the American Academy of Pediatrics, encourage parents, teachers and caregivers to help children understand tragedies in a developmentally-appropriate context that they can understand and emotionally manage. More:

Consume information wisely

Misinformation spreads quickly during mass tragedies: To stay informed, follow and rely on firsthand sources, including local journalists and reporters in the area, and avoid sharing information that has not been verified.

Tips for avoiding misinformation and disinformation (Prof. Kate Starbird, UW Center for an Informed Public)

Donate blood

This tragedy highlights the importance of always having blood available. One of the best ways to show your support of the Uvalde community is to donate blood in your own community. As we enter a long holiday weekend and the beginning of the summer travel season, communities across the country continue to grapple with a historic need for blood.

Schedule a donation appointment with The American Red Cross, or Bloodworks is hosting  popup donation drives at the UW Tower.

Support victims

GoFundMe has established a hub where those who want to give money can safely donate to verified fundraisers for people affected by the Uvalde shooting. Among them is VictimsFirst, a network of families of the deceased and survivors of previous mass shootings.

The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District set up a donation fund at the First State Bank of Uvalde for the families of the victims. Donations can be sent by check to PO Box 1908, Uvalde, TX 78802, or through Zelle to robbschoolmemorialfund@gmail.com.

The League of United Latin American Citizens, a Latino civil rights organization, is collecting donations for the families of the victims and survivors.

University Health has set up the Uvalde Victims Relief Fund to support the families while their loved ones are at University Hospital following the tragic shooting at Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. These donations will be used to cover any unpaid medical expenses, lodging, food and other needs identified by our social workers.

Take action

Wear Orange is June 3-5: During National Gun Violence Awareness Day and Wear Orange Weekend, join national organization Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America to honor survivors of gun violence by wearing orange.

Text ACT to 644-33 to connect with Everytown for Gun Safety, which will send you ways to address gun violence based on your zip code.

Volunteer lawyers who are licensed in Texas are needed, according to the San Antonio Legal Services Association, to assist shooting victims and their families with legal needs, including insurance and family law issues, in the coming weeks.

Find safe storage for firearms outside your home with the Washington Safe Storage Map.

Petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) when an individual’s behavior indicates substantial risk of suicide or harm to self or others.

If you want take change into your own hands, here’s how to run for office (NPR)

Support change

Consider making a one-time gift or setting up monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD to one of our member organizations advocating for stricter gun control in the U.S.:

Washington Ceasefire Foundation (charity code 1478594): Washington CeaseFire Foundation is dedicated to reducing gun violence in Washington State through research, education and advocacy.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation (charity code 1482513): Prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide and accidental discharge so that no other parent experiences the senseless, horrific loss of their child.

Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (charity code 0456909): To create an America free from gun violence, where all Americans are safe at home, at school, at work, and in their communities.

Alliance for Gun Responsibility Foundation (charity code 1483088): works to end the gun violence crisis in our community and to promote a culture of gun ownership that balances rights with responsibilities.