Fundraiser to honor Lee Arnett, support family in De Soto
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
DE SOTO, Ill. (KBSI) — Community members are rallying around the family of 8-year-old Leland “Lee” Arnett with a fundraiser later this month designed to honor Lee’s memory and provide ongoing support for his family.
The Love for Lee fundraiser will take place June 28 at the De Soto Community Park Pavilion. The family-friendly event will include food, live and silent auctions, T-shirt sales and a pinwheel planting ceremony in Lee’s honor. Organizers say the gathering will give friends, neighbors and supporters an opportunity to come together, remember Lee and show support for his loved ones.
Proceeds from the event will help Lee’s family as his mother continues her recovery and family members cope with the challenges ahead. Organizers say commemorative T-shirt sales are one of the primary fundraising efforts connected to the event.
Organizer Elizabeth Sears, a crime victim advocate, said support has poured in from across southern Illinois since planning for the fundraiser began.
“I think that it has impacted more than just the family,” Sears said. “I think the community and surrounding communities as a whole have been really heartbroken over what happened in De Soto.”
In addition to fundraising activities, Sears said the event is intended to provide a visible demonstration of community support for the family during a difficult time.
Sears said the gathering will allow community members to remind the family they are not facing the tragedy alone.
“The mother is going to have a long road to recovery and just dealing with the grief of it all,” Sears said. “I think it’s important for the community to show them they’re supported in this hard time.”
Organizers are continuing to accept donations for the live and silent auctions and encourage community members to participate in any way they can.
The fundraiser follows a domestic violence incident reported May 13 in De Soto. Authorities said Lee and his mother suffered serious injuries and were transported to a St. Louis-area hospital. Lee later died from his injuries.
Marcus L. Moultrie, 36, of De Soto, was initially charged with attempted murder. Court records show one of those charges was later amended to murder following Lee’s death. The investigation remains ongoing.
LINKS:
• Love for Lee T-shirt information: https://shopsilkworm.com/loveforlee
• Love for Lee fundraiser event page: https://www.facebook.com/share/18rfy2Qjad/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• CONTACT ELIZABETH SEARS FOR MORE INFORMATION: (618)457-3200 EXT.447 OR esears@carbondaleil.gov
