LOWER LAKE — A community came together Friday night to help the family of a Hidden Valley Lake child stabbing victim. Organizers said the event served 197 people and raised $3,000, including individual donations.
Tessa Faith Walker, 10, was stabbed to death on the Friday afternoon of March 21 when she was walking with her 13-year-old sister Kristen Marie Walker on Firethorn Road inside the gated community. Kristen Marie Walker, who was also stabbed, was flown to the Children”s Hospital in Oakland and treated. James Ronald Pagan, 31, was arrested at his Hidden Valley Lake Home on suspicion of murder.
“I have a child of my own, and I could never imagine something like this happening to my child. I would want the community to back me up and to be there for each other. That”s the benefit of living in a small community,” organizer Jill Burnett said.
She and co-organizer Sally La Londe worked on the fundraiser for about two weeks and watched as it surpassed expectations.
“I thought it was going to be a little spaghetti feed ? invite a few close people. So many people donated so many things,” Burnett said.
At one of the green-covered tables was Sarah Walker, 18, the two stabbing victims” big sister. She said she was “surprised but happy” about the turnout. Her parents could not attend the dinner, she said, because they had to be at a meeting.
“It”s nice to see a community pull together after something like this,” Sarah Walker said.
“We”ve had people drop off $20 because they couldn”t be here,” La Londe said. An hour into the fundraiser, she said more than $500 was raised.
Santa Rosa companies Danny”s Trucking Equipment and Repair, and Santa Rosa Meat and Poultry, donated spaghetti sauce and meat. Grocery Outlet donated the noodles, Foods Etcetera donated garlic bread and Morris Distribution in Santa Rosa gave sodas and water to wash it all down, according to Burnett.
A $750 carved bench made by La Londe”s husband was one of many items that were up for a silent auction at the event. Admission was $7 for adults and $3 for children at the Lower Lake Brick Hall, space donated by the neighboring Lower Lake Fire Department.
Other items included wine baskets Burnett and La Londe assembled with donated chocolates and candles, and wine from Shannon Ridge Winery and Terrill Cellars next door to the Lower Lake post office.
Post office staff purchased concert tickets at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa. Several area vendors donated gift certificates and items to the cause, including an autographed NFL game ball contributed by Griffin Furniture.
“I knew it was going to be huge when people called me at home and left messages on my answering machine asking about the feed. Businesses were calling to say they had heard of it, and wanted to know when it was going to be. I knew it was going to be really big ? bigger than I had anticipated. People you wouldn”t even think would come together and help you did,” Burnett said.
Packets of seeds were given out to each ticket holder with a note attached that read, “Please plant this seed in loving memory of Tessa Walker.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
