Community rallies to help support officer’s family
On Thursday, May 30, a fundraising event at Beal College saw students, staff and community come together to support the family of Maine State Police Detective Benjamin Campbell, who died in the line of duty on April 3 as the result of a traffic accident.
The event featured an auction, T-shirt sale, bake sale and raffle. Donations were also accepted. Total funds raised were in excess of $2,400.
Beal student Jessica Murry, who spearheaded the fundraisers along with support from student groups and staff, said that all the auction items sold at great prices. Top bids included $191 for a BBQ picnic for up to 20 people donated by Moe’s BBQ and $200 for an hour-long photography shoot donated by Hall Photography.
Murry also said that the bake sale went well, noting that food left over from the bake sale was donated to the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.
Another highlight of the event was the arrival of a donor who generously contributed $500 but wished to remain anonymous.
The money raised at the event will go to Detective Campbell’s widow and young son.
“Jessica worked tirelessly for this cause and we can’t thank her enough for her efforts for organizing and coordinating the bake sale fundraiser for Detective Campbell’s family. This could not have been done without her taking the reins and working for a cause that she believed in with all of her heart.”
Steve Villett, COO, Beal College
Murry, who is in the Nursing program at Beal, cited her own family connections with law enforcement as among the main reasons she took the initiative to see this fundraising effort through. She hopes that the event will not only help the family of Detective Campbell, but also raise awareness of the sacrifices made and challenges faced by law enforcement officers across the state.