On June 21, 2024, Fordyce, Arkansas endured horrific violence when a gunman opened fire at a Mad Butcher Grocery store, killing four people and wounding nine. The entire state is heartbroken. Many have asked how to help.
Arkansas Community Foundation has established the Fordyce Survivors Fund to provide direct financial assistance to the survivors of the deceased and those directly affected by this tragedy.
The Community Foundation partnered with two other organizations, Victims First and the Mass Violence Survivors Fund. These organizations have extensive experience in mass shooting support for survivors.
Contributions to the Fordyce Survivors Fund will be distributed with guidance from the Community Foundation and ultimately determined by a community-led steering committee of Fordyce residents and local leadership. The steering committee members and draft protocol can be found here.
The Mass Violence Survivors Fund is the leading authority on financial assistance to victims of mass casualty events. They help coordinate fundraising efforts nationwide and locally with strategies and tools for how the money is deployed effectively using a community-based decision making process. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Victims First works behind the scenes as rapid responders to mass shootings. They have worked more than 50 shootings since 2012. They have developed a robust best practices document for use by any community or group affected by a shooting. It is the only comprehensive guide that exists to help community leaders, politicians, and nonprofits in alleviating the chaos that follows an event like what happened in Fordyce. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
CLICK HERE TO READ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE FUND