Support for Newtown School Shooting Victims Pours In

Editor's Note: This article was written and submitted by David Reich-Hale.

NEWTOWN, CT -- In New Hampshire, a student created a makeshift candlelight memorial for the victims.

On Long Island, a neighborhood turned off its holiday lights in the wake of the shooting that killed 26 people, including 20 school kids, at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday.

A blogger from Atlanta wrote a riveting Christmas poem, where he asks Santa to "take my presents and change them into hugs. And throw them down their chimneys with all your Christmas love." More than 1,000 Facebook users have shared Brandon Kelley's post.

As Newtown residents take their first, tentative steps toward recovering from a shocking shooting spree that has gripped the nation, an outpouring of support continues to build. Already, more than 1,400 Patch users have posted this four-word comment — "I want to help" — on an article created for people seeking to get auto-notified about ways they can support this devastated community.

And the offers and expressions of support have been impressive.

Virginia's Emily R. Doll wrote a letter to Newtown. In it, she says that while she's never been here, "my heart shattered for you today in a way I can’t comprehend."

An American artist from 3,000 miles away in the far reaches of the Pacific Northwest wants to draw a keepsake portrait for every victim's family.

And then there is Alysa White of Illinois, who created the Facebook group "Teddys for Newtown," which already has nearly 1,000 likes.

The 20-year old's simple, but loving, goal: Collect teddy bears for each of the children who attend Sandy Hook Elementary School.