From a Hamot Health Foundation news release
A City Mourns
This morning’s headline in the Erie Times-News says it all — A City Mourns. Early Sunday morning, five children tragically lost their lives in a devastating house fire in the city of Erie. This hits home with the UPMC Hamot family as Shebby Overton, an amazing long-time employee, lost four grandchildren in the fire.
Words will never express the sadness we all feel for the Overton family.
First responders are also facing serious emotional trauma as a result of this event. UPMC Hamot emergency physicians and staff, along with law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics all took part in the heroic efforts. Tragedies like this are a stark reminder of the difficulty and challenges of their jobs.
Last week, Hamot Health Foundation had planned to use gifts from Erie Gives to support our MOMI biobank project. In light of this tragedy, we will now direct 100 percent of our contributions from Erie Gives Day to those impacted by this heartbreaking event — the families of the children who sadly lost their lives this weekend and the first responders. Hamot Health Foundation has already committed the first $5,000 to this cause.
You can support this effort in two ways.
- Donate by check today, Aug. 12, and tomorrow, Aug. 13. Drop your check off at the Hamot Health Foundation office, 302 French St., Erie, PA 16507. Make your check payable to The Erie Community Foundation. Your check must be accompanied by this check donation form.
- Donate online tomorrow between the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
If you have any questions, please call 814-877-7020.
