Yammy Bear fundraiser to visit Uvalde, TX

(ABC 6 News) – The friends and family of Yammy Bear have been contacted by three of the survivors of the school shooting in Uvalde, TX, asking him for a visit. They are currently planning a trip but need a little bit of help to make it there.

The local figure is known for providing support to the community of Rochester through public appearances and fundraisers.

The group has set up a GoFund Me to help pay for expenses for the 18-hour drive, and with gas prices at record highs, anything contributed could do a lot of help in their venture.

"Yammy Bear and I are grateful that somebody reached out to us, and knew that we are a resource that we can turn to," CarolAnn Jackson, co-founder of Yammy Bear and Family said.

The shooting at Robb Elementary School has shaken the small town of Uvalde. As the town grieves the loss of 19 kids and 2 adults, one woman who has a kid who goes to Robb Elementary School, reached out to Yammy Bear.

She says her son is a survivor of the shooting and would love to see Yammy Bear.

In another message Yammy Bear received, he got asked if he wanted to visit a nursing him in Uvalde.

And for Yammy Bear and Family, this means a lot to them.

"I’m definitely working on praying now on how to be strong and be a light and continue to smile and bring that and not just be another person," Jackson said.

This mission is personal for CarolAnn, she’s a mom and wants to make sure that other moms and families are supported through these challenging times.

"We’re going to go, either way, we’re going to Texas," she said.

And no matter what, Yammy Bear and family will make the trek to Texas if that means they have to use their own paychecks.

"We think the best thing that we can do is to give children something that can help them learn to comfort themselves," Jackson said.

And the stuffed animals will go to the shooting survivors at the vigil site in front of the school, and Yammy Bear will be there to give them one of his hugs.

"Is there anything you’d like to tell the kids of Uvalde?"

"Aw, I want to tell them that we love them and we’re thinking of them and they didn’t do anything wrong," Jackson said.