ABC 6 News Exclusive: Yammy Bear attends community healing event in Uvalde

(ABC 6 News) – The community in Uvalde, Texas was still grieving Tuesday, six weeks after the deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary.
A massive memorial now lays on the ground outside the school. People from across the country were visiting, leaving flowers and saying prayers.

Meanwhile, the victims’ families were at a crossroads between getting answers but also moving forward.

To help the community heal, Rochester’s Yammy Bear gave out love, support and stuffed animals to kids Tuesday afternoon.

Charles Jackson and his wife Carolann said they have always felt called to give back to the community.

“I just thought it was fun at first. I didn’t have a vision of it being so helpful,” Carolann said.

That mission brought them 1,300 miles away to Uvalde after a mother and her son reached out on Facebook.

“It was pretty much ordained. When she reached out it was kind of that final confirmation that we’re going to Uvalde,” Carolann said.

Isabel Silguero lost her nieces Jailah Silguero and Nevaeh Bravo to the tragedy. She said she first heard about the shooting on social media.

“When I saw that, I’m like ‘it’s almost the end of the school year. People are prank calling and making jokes. It’ll pass. It’ll pass right now.’ And seriously, this didn’t pass,” Silguero said.

After hearing about Yammy Bear’s visit, she set up an event at the local Church’s Chicken she manages for the community to heal together.

“Make them, you know, look at positive things and not just the ugly,” Silguero said.

But healing doesn’t come easy. Not for a community with so many unanswered questions.

“The police, they have protection on them to try and protect somewhat of what they were going into. These children had nothing,” Silguero said.

At the community event Tuesday, conversation quickly turned to questions about police response.

“He got in without a key, so what was the hold up with these cops?” Silguero said. “And why make these families more angry? Why not just show your face and apologize?”

Despite authorities’ vague reports about what happened that day, Silguero said her message is clear, “Making a change happen is a way to move forward. That’s it."

And, the country is trying to move forward with them. Between nationwide cries for gun reform and more individual, personal gifts, Uvalde families are feeling the support.