Town Comes Together To Support Fair Victim
Candlelight Vigil Held For Andrea Vellinga
Posted: 08/20/2011
Last Updated:
640 days ago
The hometown of one of the people critically injured in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse that killed six people and injured dozens more came together Saturday night to pray for her recovery.Pendleton has been painted pink, Andrea Vellinga's favorite color, as friends and family members pray for her recovery and the healing of others who were injured, 6News' Rick Hightower reported.
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Indiana State Fair Stage Collapse
Pink ribbons, pink banners and pink bracelets were all over the place during a prayer vigil. At 8:49 p.m., the time the collapse happened last Saturday, prayer was followed by a brief moment of silence.More than 100 people took part in the vigil. Vellinga, a young wife and mother, is one of the more seriously injured patients who remain at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis."I have complete faith in God that he is going to bring her out of this and that he's just bringing us all together to support her," said Jodi Brown, Vellinga's friend. "I have complete faith she's going to come back and be the same Andrea she's always been."In many areas of Madison County, store fronts are adorned with posters that are reminders of a vibrant woman who is fighting for her life."We are just hoping and praying everything works out and that Andrea has our prayers from the entire town," said Missy Denny, another friend of Vellinga. "She's touched so many lives here."There have been several small fundraisers to help the family pay for medical costs, and several more are planned."She's very well loved. She's a breath of fresh air," said Rachelle Lemon, another friend of Vellinga. "I'm very proud of our community pulling together the way they have."Pastor Chris Denny said the entire town is pulling for a miracle."We're a community of faith that believes God can do significant things, so we want to unite together and lift Andrea up in that way," Denny said.Information about Vellinga's condition is not being released, but friends and her pastor said they are pleased with her recovery so far.
A fund to help the victims and their families has been established by the Central Indiana Community Foundation. Donations can be made online or checks with Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund in the memo line can be sent to CICF, Attn: Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund at 615 N. Alabama St. Indianapolis, IN 46204.
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