'It's family': Abundant Life Christian School alumni come together to help families after school shooting

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) — It was a solemn scene as yellow police tape remained around Abundant Life Christian School on Tuesday, one day after a deadly shooting.

In wake of the tragedy, alumni of the building are turning their grief into action by coming together to support the students, staff, and parents.

"My overwhelming feelings yesterday were helplessness, and then just instantly thinking of parents," said Adam Rostad, a 2006 graduate of Abundant Life Christian School.

Rostad's roots go back much further. His grandfather, Rev. Warren Heckman, was the pastor who founded the school in 1978.

"I think something he would probably say is he's very proud of the small part he played in God's work in Madison," his grandson said.

When Rostad heard about the shooting on Dec. 16, he was heartbroken.

"There are still people on staff who I have, my entire life, counted among my closest family friends," he explained.

He wanted to help the students' families and posted on the ALCS Alumni Facebook page asking to start a meal train.

"I just thought, well I could at least cook a meal," Rostad said. "If I can cook a meal, somebody else could cook a meal or buy a gift card."

More than 100 alumni and others from across the country responded, offering a hand.

"When you're going through all these emotions, you wonder, what can I do to help," said Holly Larson, mother of a former ALCS student. "There's just that connection that you always have."

Rostad and Larson said the tragedy seems to be bringing Abundant Life alumni closer, by leaning on each other to lift up others.

"It's like home. It's family," Rostad said.

"It's hard to just sit - sit with your emotions, and with the levity of what's happening," Larson said.

Rostad's goal is to at least provide dinner for affected families through the rest of the year.

You can find more information on his website.