Barry Sheppard has been our beloved crossing guard at Washington Ave. and Lincoln Ave., keeping our children safe for many years. He lost his wife last week and we are raising money for him to help with his expenses.

Please consider donating any amount, large or small, to show Mr. Barry that we support him in his time of grief and need.

UPDATE: Wow! What an amazing response we got from our small community. This morning, we told Mr. Barry how much we raised. Not only was he touched -- he was floored. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this amazing gift for him.

From a housekeeping perspective, GoFundMe requires that I share how I know Mr. Barry, how the funds will be delivered to him, and what the funds will be used for. Mr. Barry became our friend over 6 years ago when we moved into the house next to his crossing guard post. We see him every morning and afternoon on school days. When I asked Mr. Barry about the best to get him the funds, he said that it would be easiest if we give him a check, so I will transfer funds to my account when the fundraiser closes and write him a check for the amount collected. He intends to use the funds to defray his funeral expenses, medical bills and other expenses. If anyone has any questions about this process, please contact me.