MONTEREY, Calif. (KTVU) - It began as a call for prayers, but a group of mothers in the Monterey area went above and beyond that call and came together to help a four month old baby left motherless over the weekend, after a gunman in Palm Springs opened fire on police officers, killing two of them.
KTVU/FOX 2's Claudine Wong posted the story on her Facebook page on Monday:
"In this family....no-one fights alone"
It is amazing what people do when they find out there is a need and find out that they can help.
A friend sent me these pictures today of coolers filled with donated breast milk and told me about a remarkable effort that has taken place over the last couple of days for Palm Springs Officer Lesley Zerebny's baby, 4 month old Cora.
It's something only mothers can do for Officer Zerebny.
She was shot and killed on Saturday in the line of duty. She had just gone back to work from maternity leave.
This effort started on social media when a family member posted asking for prayers. That family member happened to be in the Monterey area and when a local woman named Ashley asked if donated breast milk could help, she said yes and then this incredible effort got underway.
It didn't take long but tonight more than 500 ounces of breast milk from moms the Monterey area were delivered to that family member to take back to Cora.
They estimate that the milk could last for more than a month. It will be screened and tested before it can be used.
As far as more donations I should say the Palms Springs Police Officers Association says that if people want to donate to formula they can send Enfamil reguline formula to the department.
But this is not about breast milk or formula, it's about the human heart and about the desire and the capacity of people to give.
Two officers lost their lives on Saturday...responding to a call.
Officer Zerebny and Veteran officer Jose Vega.
Today in Monterey moms also responded to a call for help.