PARCHMENT, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — A Kalamazoo-area community has rallied in a big way to support and show their love to a family going through an immensely challenging time. 21-year-old Parchment native and resident Kate Leckie, daughter of Dodi Leckie and Jim Leckie III, was critically injured in a car accident in Barry County on Friday, March 19. Since then she has been fighting for her life at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Meanwhile, residents and businesses in Parchment and in the surrounding community have exploded with waves of support during the last seven days. And many of them have come up with creative ways to show love and help raise money for the expensive medical needs Kate needs right now. Everything from T-shirts to yard signs, car decals, bracelets, cookies, and much more are being sold and distributed throughout the Parchment area using the hashtag #KateStrong to promote the effort.
Local businesses are also getting involved. On Thursday, Twisters Parchment offered to donate a portion of their profits to the #KateStrong effort as well as offering a donation box. They had such a strong response that traffic was backed up several hundred feet and the eatery ended up staying open well past its closing time due to the demand. A similar fundraising effort will be held next week at Geno’s Pizza in Parchment. A virtual live auction will also be held on Thursday, April 1.
Social media pages in Parchment are being updated continuously by community members with new information on how people can get involved to help the Leckie family. A GoFundMe page has also been launched and has quickly generated numerous donations.
Again, there are very likely some fundraising events that were missed as this article was being produced, because so many people are getting involved it is hard to keep up! And that is a heartwarming, wonderful challenge. But in case of anything that was missed, links have been provided below for anyone who wants to join the #KateStrong effort. And also check out the photo gallery below to see how much the Parchment community has united behind one of their own. It will likely be the most uplifting thing you see today.
CLICK HERE to visit the #KateStrong GoFundMe fundraiser page
CLICK HERE to visit the #KateStrong Facebook page with donation items for sale and related events
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- #KateStrong T-shirts at Northwood Elemntary School – Courtesy Stephanie Winter
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- #KateStrong rabbit foots – Courtesy Angie Grooten
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- Parchment High School softball team at Twisters for fundraiser – Courtesy Nicky Carlson
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- Kate Strong sign – Courtesy Erin Burkett
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- #KateStrong prayer vigil at Borgess Hospital – Courtesy Crystal Fuller
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- #KateStrong cookies – Courtesy Melissa Hoeksema
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- Cars waiting in line at Twisters on Thursday – Courtesy Liz Emmons
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- #KateStrong bracelets – Courtesy Rick and Jamie Lynch
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- Heidi Homrich and Sydney Leckie wearing #KateStrong shirts – Courtesy Lela Homrich
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- #KateStrong flier at Borgess – Courtesy Margo Elizabeth
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- Kate Leckie’s brother and grandmother – Courtesy Crystal Fuller
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- #KateStrong display at Parchment resident’s home – Courtesy Laura Lorraine
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- #Kate Strong support – Courtesy Theresa Eberhard
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- #KateStrong sign outside a small cabin – Courtesy Angie Grooten
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- Stella and Thomas getting ready for school, showing their #KateStrong T-shirts – Courtesy Toni Zacker-Houseman
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- #KateStrong flier on a Parchment storefront – Courtesy Angie Grooten
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- April Ouweleen eating at Twisters to support #KateStrong
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