Community rallies to help family

Standard Democrat

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Support has poured in for an area family dealing with the aftermath of a car accident.

Twelve-year-old Brittany Gates and her aunt, Evelyn Orman, were killed in a Jan. 1 collision. Two other passengers in the vehicle, Brittany's father, James Walter Gates, and her 11-year-old sister, Ashley, sustained serious injuries.

Soon after, a trust fund for the family was set up at Firstar Bank, which made it possible for the Gateses to pay off several bills.

Pizza Inn teamed up with teachers, principals, students and parents from Scott County Central last week to raise money for the family. Brittany was a sixth-grader at the elementary school.

The volunteers worked at the restaurant three hours Sunday and four Monday. Pizza Inn donated all the tips, including the volunteer dishwasher's salary, to help the family. The fund-raiser netted $1,350.

Brittany's mother, Jessica, is currently assistant manager at Pizza Inn, but was forced to take a leave of absence to care for her family.

Students at SCC also collected money at school and did without sodas, ice cream and snacks to help raise money.

James Gates sustained a brain stem injury and has been in a coma since the accident. Ashley is now at home. She sustained massive internal head trauma. She is receiving physical therapy.

"I really had no idea that the community would pull together for somebody like me," Jessica Gates said. "There are no words to express my appreciation."

Anyone interested in making a donation may send it to The Gates Family Fund c/o Firstar Bank, P.O. Box 1028, Sikeston, Mo. 63801.