Community comes together in wake of tragedy - KMSP-TV

Community comes together in wake of tragedy

Days after an unimaginable tragedy, River Falls, WI finds itself in the middle of its annual town celebration.

Aaron Schaffhausen is charged with murdering his three daughters, Amara, Sophie and Celia on Tuesday.

Thursday night marked the start of the annual River Falls Days, a celebration that will run through Sunday.

The two events have many wondering it the Festival should be a time for celebrating or a time for grieving.

"I think it's a little of both. It's odd. You don't feel like you should be celebrating anything right now, you should be grieving, but yet life has a way of healing," said Pastor Ted Marsh.

One way the community hopes to heal, is by wearing bracelets in support of the girls. The bracelets not only act as a symbol of solidarity, but also as a way to help raise money for the funeral arrangements.

The bracelets are being sold by members of Amara's soccer team.

"People are just showing up to buy these things," said Ellie Linehan, a member of the soccer team.

As of Friday afternoon the team had sold over 1,000 bracelets and had to order more. Some people had even driven to River Falls just to buy the bracelet, and show support of a community in its time of need.

Kathy Metcalf, who organized the sale has been stunned by the support, "The power of a little piece of rubber! I had no idea what we were starting, had no idea. We just thought it was a way for our girls to take action. In a tough situation try and bring something good out of it."