EFFINGHAM, Ill. (WCIA) — A family hit by tragedy is receiving some financial help this month, and it's all thanks to an Effingham business that's serving as a platform for local generosity.
The Warren family lost their infant son on April 24. James Austin Warren was just 7 months old when he was killed in a car accident north of Effingham. Now, his parents, Brittney Carnes and Jordan Warren, are receiving support from the community.
“As hard as it is, he's not really gone,” Warren said. “He will live on forever through me, through Britney and through our family and friends.”
Effingham's Ginger Ale wanted to extend its emotional support to financial support.
“Whatever we collect will go towards helping them with whatever healing process they need,” owner Casey Walk said.
Each month, restaurant staff decides to help a family or organization in need, and Walk said it all comes down to the generosity of customers and staff.
“We just told them what they wanted to do and they decided to start collecting it,” she said. “They didn't see it as a tip, they saw it as a donation.”
Currently, customers can help by dropping off coins or a donation as they drive through the store.
Chloe Coster is the assistant manager and said all the staff just wanted to show their support for the family.
“I know this isn't going to make anything better, but hopefully it will help with hospital bills, overhead, things like that,” Koster said. “Hopefully it will help them get by during a really bad time.”
The family said the money will help pay for Warren's medical bills after the accident, but for now they feel only gratitude and grief.
“I'm really grateful for everything everyone's doing,” Karns said.
“Honestly, I'm so grateful for all of your support and like I said, my biggest concern, my biggest wish is that you all remember him,” Warren said. “He lives forever and his memory will live on through us forever, so I cherish that every day.”
The owner of Ginger Ale told me he doesn't have an end goal in mind, he's just trying to raise as much money as he can for this family by the end of the month.
