Donation jars around town are misleading

I didn't think that two short weeks after my brother, Eli Holt, was shot in the face on Thanksgiving Day my energy would have to be used like this. I thought the grief would lessen a bit and I may possibly even be able to sleep. Instead I am left with the task of requesting that my favorite Sandpoint businesses deviate from collecting money for the wife and children of the man who shot and killed him.

I was recently purchasing a few things at a downtown store and noticed a donation jar on the counter. I make a habit of reading the information given and most always making a donation. This time was different. The donation was intended for "The wife and children of James Anderson, victims of the recent Thanksgiving Day shooting." I was speechless. James Anderson is the person charged with first-degree murder for shooting my brother.

Although, the term victim is fairly inclusive to anyone who was caused a hardship by this crime, victim hardly seems the term for any person other than my brother. I felt like the terminology used was deceiving. I was also offended. My family not only has to endure the fact that my brother is dead, a funeral for a 30-year-old with his whole life ahead of him, Mike Brown's constant radio news reminders, the television and the newspaper; now we have to see donation buckets for the family of the man that killed him.

While suffering through one of the most difficult times of our life, we have kept James Anderson's wife and his children in our thoughts. They have also lost. My sister and I went to visit with his wife just days after the shooting. We knew that she must be scared. We knew that my sister, other brother and his girlfriend all lived a few doors away. We knew that she was evicted from her home and had to be out by the end of the month. We knew she didn't have a lot of friends or family here. We went there to let her know that we knew it wasn't her fault, that she didn't need to be afraid, and that if there was anything she needed to let us know. Our mother divided up the flowers from the funeral and brought them to each of her children, Eli's memorial and to James' wife. She offered them as a token of compassion. Compassion is something that our whole family had for her and her children.

When these jars were put on countertops was it clearly explained what the money would be used for? Was it explained clearly who these people are? I would hate to think that any of this money would be used to put money on James Anderson's jail account or on his bail.

I am sure that James' wife and children will need things in the coming months. Take them a bag of groceries, buy her a tank of gas, drop off notes of encouragement, but please take the donation jars off your counter.

ANNA BLACKFORD

Sandpoint