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Dear Friends, The loss of four young people last week — Hana St. Juliana (14), Madisyn Baldwin (17), Tate Myre (16), and Justin Shilling (17) — has ripped a hole in our community. The trauma inflicted on their friends and classmates will never cease, and while there’s no doubt that all of us can see ourselves in the parents, students, teachers, and staff at Oxford, we can’t even begin to imagine their pain. It is more important than ever that we care for each other. I’ve been amazed at the response I’ve seen from everyone in Oxford and across Michigan, reaching out to each other to figure out how to help, and being the shoulder that all those who were impacted can lean on — because a tragedy like this impacts everyone: students, families, teachers, first responders, and entire communities. If you need someone to talk to, or need help thinking through how to talk to your kids about what is happening, below are resources that may be helpful:
Further, Michigan’s Okay to Say Program is for anyone who wants to report tips confidentially on criminal activities or potential harm directed at students, school employees, or schools. Tips can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Office for Victims of Crime has created this dedicated page — Resources and Support for the Victims in Oxford Township, Michigan — that also has helpful information for victims, their families, and the community during this difficult time. This is an incredibly painful moment, especially for so many kids who will have to process their grief and emotions to try to make sense of what has happened. Hold your loved ones close, ask for support when you need it, and please reach out to anyone you know in the Oxford area. People need to hear from others and to know they’re not alone. As always, if I can be of any assistance to you or your family, please call my office at (517) 373-2417, or email me at SenRBayer@senate.michigan.gov. With love and support, |
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