After the tragic events that took place on August 3 El Pasoans have come together as a community to help out in any way possible.  

Within hours of the shooting the Victims Relief Fund was already receiving donations. This caused a ripple effect of kindness in our community. 

The Victims Relief Fund has been receiving donations over the past three months for those injured and victims families in the mass shooting.

More than $6 million have been donated since the August 3, 2019.

Donations to the El Paso Victims Relief Fund will be accepted through November 25, 2019 according to the National Compassion Fund.

Applications to receive money will close on November 8.

Small disbursements of money have already been handed out to the families of the 22 people who were killed and the 26 who were injured according to the The Paso Del Norte Community Foundation.

 They’ve each received $5,500 and another $2,000 is expected to be distributed in November.

The funds will be available on to applicants mid-December.

 The distribution will begin on a rolling basis.

Not only have El Pasoans stepped up by donating money, the community has also contributed in many different ways.

El Pasoans have also helped in other ways by selling t-shirts with the El Paso Strong logo.

Viva La Mocha created the design and have sold over 3,500 shirts.

They donated $15 per $20 shirts and $5 per button or sticker to the El Paso Community Foundation victims fund.

They wrote a check for EPCF of $40,000.

El Paso native, Khalid, came back to the Sun City to have a benefit concert on September 1, 2019. 

Former Congressman Beto O’Rourke and actor Matthew McConaughey made a surprise appearance.

Loretto senior Alejandra Urbina attended the concert and said “The crowd was full of families, not just teens. It was so comforting because we all were affected by what happened and we all came together to just show each other were here for one another.”

Khalid made the concert very happy and uplifting in light of everything. 

Urbina said “Khalid said how much he loves El Paso and how devastating it was that something like this happened but that we are strong and we can get through it.”

The concert lasted approximately two and a half hours.

El Pasoans have been helping in many other ways such as donating blood, concert fundraisers, and other simple acts of kindness.

In a dark times El Pasoans have come together to show their love and support, either by donating or giving up some of their time. 

In light of all this kindness there has been some controversy of what is to happen to the Walmart on Cielo Vista.

Walmart plans to reopen its store in El Paso, Texas November 14, 2019. 

The date for the Cielo Vista Walmart store reopening can’t be certain yet considering there is still much work to be done such as repairs to the scene of the August 3 shootings.

 Walmart will be opening a memorial inside the store to honor those who died. 

Despite this El Pasoans have come together as a community. 

El Paso is truly indeed so strong.