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Victims' children get back-to-school help
Tuesday, August 28, 2001 By Nate Guidry, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Lamar Cottrell Jr. would like tell his father hello. He would like to tell him he's missed and loved. But the 8-year-old can't, because his father, Lamar Cottrell, was murdered in 1994, gunned down on a street in Larimer while riding his bicycle.
"I would like to tell my dad I love him," said the youngster. "I wish he could be with me to help me pick out a pair of shoes and a shirt."
Lamar Cottrell and more than 40 other children who have lost their fathers to violence were were taken on a back-to-school shopping spree at Kmart in Edgewood last night.
The outing was sponsored by the Tree of Hope, an organization founded in 1995 by Adrienne Young, a grieving mother herself. The organization provides material and spiritual support to families of young victims.
Thanks to donations from a variety of organizations, each child was given $50 to purchase school clothing and supplies; the store provided a 50 percent discount on all the purchases.
"We're a part of the community and we wanted to help," said Dave Falbo, the store manager.
Through its offices, based at the Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., Tree of Hope coordinates a crisis response program that provides counseling for children, bereavement assistance and other services. Last year, 61 children lost parents to homicide in Allegheny County. Nearly 750 children have lost parents to murder in the county since 1997.
"We all have the same concerns," said Young, who started the organization after her son, Javon Thompson, was killed on Dec. 20, 1994.
Thompson, a student at Carnegie Mellon University, was killed when a young man burst into a home he was visiting and shot three people. Javon Thompson also is survived by a daughter, TaJaya Thompson, who was born a month after his burial.
"Our sons and grandsons are dying, and the biggest victims are these young mothers and their children," said Young. "The biggest casualty of urban violence are the children. These young mothers are left to raise these children while they are still grieving."
Before going inside the store to pick out new clothes and school supplies, the group paused for a short prayer and each child was given a name tag.
"I couldn't afford to do this on my own," said Michelle Saunders, of McKeesport, whose boyfriend, Jamie Daniels, was killed in February as he crossed the Smithfield Street Bridge. "I have two children, and I really appreciate what they have done. It was blessing that they came to my aid."
Inside the store, Ta-Tasha Monk helped her 8-year-old nephew, Kendre Crawford, pick out some new things.
"I want a pair of shoes and a book bag," said Kendre. "I really appreciate what they are doing for us."
"It has been a strain," said Monk, whose brother, Quavoris Crawford, was killed in 1996. "The victims are all of us. We are thankful for Tree of Hope. Maybe one day the violence will end."
In the children's clothing department, 6-year-old TaJaya Thompson hoped to find pants and maybe some shoes.
"I'm going to get what I need for school," she said. "My mother and grandmother will help me find what I need."
Linda Brown, one of several volunteers who helped coordinate the outing, could empathize with the surviving parents and relatives. She lost a son to violence two years ago.
"There are a sizable amount of parents that are struggling," said Brown. "We all support each other because we all have experienced pain and we all continue to grieve."
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