Fundraiser set for girl mauled by dog

April 23, 2009 05:09 pm

— KULPMONT — Tressa Reiner said all she wants from a fundraiser she and her co-worker are planning is success to help the family of Amanda Smith.
“We just want it to be a success,” she said on Thursday. “We want to give them as much as we possibly can.”
Reiner and Deby Berry, hair stylists at Sassy Snippers in Kulpmont, are holding a “Cut-a-Thon” from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to benefit Amanda, the 9-year-old who was mauled by a bullmastiff on Sunday.
As well as haircuts, the benefit will have hot dogs, popcorn and snocones for sale, raffles and blood pressure screenings, by donation only, by a certified paramedic.
All proceeds will go directly to Amanda’s family.
Normally closed this day, Reiner said the store is opening up specifically for the benefit.
“We feel sorry for the little girl,” she said. “I have a 9-year-old son and we were definitely touched by this. ... I don’t know (Amanda), I never met her before in my life. I’ve never met her family. ... We’re just hoping it’s successful. We want a lot of people here.”
Reiner said this is the first time she’s ever held a benefit event such as this one, and there there is no goal set. She just hopes members of the community would support people in need during a tragedy such as this.
“I think it was the nature of the crime and I feel children are innocent and don’t need to suffer,” she said. “... I know I’d want someone to help my child if it were my son. It’s just a really horrific incident.”
Sassy Snippers is located at 601 Chestnut St., Kulpmont. For more information, call 373-5699.
The family also is working to establish an official fund at a local bank for those who would like to donate to Amanda. Details on how to contribute to that fund will be publicized after it is established, family members said.