As the community of Newtown, Connecticut struggles to cope after the deadly shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, organizations have begun the process of setting up ways to help, both through donations and support.
- The Sandy Hook School Support Fund has been set up by the United Way of Western Connecticut. The fund will provide support services to families and the community. All donations to this fund will go directly to those affected.
- The American Red Cross has also been on the ground, offering food and water to first responders and providing more than 50 units of blood to Danbury Hospital where some of the victims were transported. They have set up a center for emergency grief counseling.
- The nonprofit mental health clinic Newtown Youth and Family Services is providing counseling for families, community members and school staff.
- The Newtown Parent Connection has also pledged to try and bring in extra counselors to help parents cope.
- Save The Children has opened a "child friendly space" in Newtown to give kids a place to play and express themselves while parents seek support or counseling. The organization has also released 10 tips for parents wondering how to help their children deal with their feelings about such a traumatic event.
- A number of other organizations, such as the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have released recommendations for parents and teachers as to how to support children if they want to talk about what happened.
- The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection says anyone wishing to volunteer should call 211 or (800) 203-1234.
For more information on how you can help the Newtown community and all those affected by the shooting, visit Impact Your World.
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