The families of the ten lives lost in Belize's largest mass casualty event are spending this week getting autopsy results and making funeral arrangements. And if you've had to bury a loved one before, you will know that the process isn't cheap, and the financial weight bears down on top of the grief.
That has moved the San Ignacio community to start raising funds for these families to assist them in their darkest moments. One establishment - The Gully Grill - has announced that they've raised more than $18,000. However, there were some concerns since some of the families have said that they haven't been contacted as yet. Meanwhile, they're currently paying out of pocket to lay their relatives to rest.
But one family - that of Genesis Parham - the driver of the Toyota Corolla - told us today that while they haven't received any calls they did see a Facebook post indicating that the funds will be disbursed soon, and they're grateful for any assistance.
Virna Manzanero, Aunt of Genesis Roduel Parham
"We appreciate all help that was rendered for all the affected families. Thank you everyone. God bless you all. Well, we haven't received any call as yet for the funds that they raised. They said there is $18,000 plus."
"We are very grateful. But today, this afternoon, we saw a post that says that tomorrow they are ready to contribute to all the affected families and they need to contact the person that raised the funds doesn't have all information of all the affected families."
"But we're here waiting and we give thanks once more for all the help rendered and we appreciate it very much. We will be using that money, as you all know, for all the expenses that are coming, coming to my sister and we appreciate it very much."
"Once again, God bless you all and thank you very much."
Today, we spoke to one fundraiser who posted that he has raised over 18 thousand dollars, but the families haven't seen the monies yet. Passy Haylock said he will distribute all he's raised equitably:
Andrew Haylock aka "Passy", Fundraiser
"So many people are reaching out to me. People are reaching out to me from the Belize City, different parts of the country, stating that they're not giving assistance. I did this not knowing and not expecting that it will get to this point."
"Now I did create a post today that mentioned that I will start distributing the money equally. But I have contact information from the families. I really don't know them, but I will start giving them money tomorrow."
"And it's a very tricky thing because then you have to make sure that you give the money to the right individual. Tomorrow again, once again, it's all about transparency. Tomorrow I'm gonna count the money that I received in the account, the money that I have set aside. And then that money, I will have a total, and then I will distribute it equally."
And while Haylock has committed to post photos of the funds he distributes - he says there are many other fundraising efforts that he has no control over:
Andrew Haylock aka "Passy", Fundraiser
"Bear in mind that we have these collecting places in Belmopan, we have in Ladyville and these are people that just reached out to me and I did it on my own and I'm very grateful and thankful for that. And we have in Corozal, regional hospital in Dangriga."
"I mention this because I have no idea how many they collected. One of my friends just created a GOFUNDME page in the U.S. I have another friend who is receiving money through Zelle from abroad. So all these monies are not accounted for. I don't have a clue, I don't have an idea how much money they collected."
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