A dinner, a silent auction and other fundraisers are being planned to benefit the families of Andrew Heese and Daniel Castor, both seriously injured in a traffic accident Saturday near Nevada.
The crash took the life of Landree Heese, 7, who was a second-grader at Avilla Elementary School.
The two Carthage-area men remain hospitalized at Freeman Hospital West in Joplin.
The dinner and silent auction are set for April 7 at Lucky J Steakhouse and Arena near Carthage, according to Tricia Charleston, of rural Carthage, who is helping to organize the effort.
She said there has been an outpouring of sympathy and support for the families.
“It’s been amazing. I’ve never had so many people want to help,” she said. “I have literally three pages filled with the names of people who want to volunteer, and I got two checks in the mail today.”
Separate bank accounts have been set up at Southwest Missouri Bank for the benefit of Andy Heese and Danny Castor. Donations may be made at any SMB location, according to Norman Rouse, who will serve as trustee.
Starting on Friday and going through the end of March, a fundraiser to benefit the families will be under way at Madstyle Salon, 2206 S. Maple St., Carthage.
“We’ll be doing pink and purple hair extensions, in memory of Landree,” said Shanna Potter, salon owner. “We’ll charge $10 each, and the money will be split for the two families, unless someone wants to designate where they want it to go.”
Potter said she has received several calls about the promotion, adding, “One woman just gave me a $50 check.”
Charleston and Potter said several local bands have volunteered to play for the April 7 fundraiser, and donations are being accepted for live and silent auctions to be held at the same time. Auction donations may be left at Specialty Risk Management, 2023 S. Garrison Ave. in Carthage, Charleston said. Questions about the effort may be directed to her at 417-388-1249.
Also injured in the accident, along with Andrew Heese, 39, and Daniel Castor, 33, were Averi Heese, 10, a student at Avilla Elementary School, and Kip A. Castor, 7, a student at Pleasant Valley Elementary School in Carthage.
The accident happened south of Nevada when a vehicle driven by Daniel Castor went out of control on ice-covered Interstate 49, went down an embankment and overturned, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.
Services
VISITATION for Landree Faith Heese is slated for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday in the Avilla School gymnasium. Private family services will be held Saturday.
