People from all 50 states have donated to help Waukesha and you can, too

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- From Waukesha to Milwaukee and beyond, businesses and community groups are stepping up to help raise money for the Christmas parade tragedy.

The Waukesha County Community Foundation and United Way partnered together to create the "United for Waukesha Community Fund" to help support the families impacted.

Shelli Marquardt, president of the Waukesha County Community Foundation, said people from all 50 states have donated to help Waukesha. The fund has had donations of $10, $50,000 and everything in between.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 23, the fund had raised more than $1 million. Organizers hope the money keeps coming.

For 35 plus years, the Sifnaios brothers have called Waukesha home. They opened their restaurant The Coop in the middle of the pandemic.

"But this community opened up its arms to us, embraced us, helped us, encouraged us and gave us a reason to open our doors with a smile on our face every day," said co-owner Joseph Sifnaios.

And now, they feel it's their turn to give back.

"We have people that worked for us that were at the parade that were directly affected, and I'm just thinking, 'My heart is just in pain,'" said co-owner Nicko Sifnaios.

On Friday, the Coop is giving 100 percent of their proceeds all day long to the Waukesha County Community Foundation.

"When something like this happens in the community, everyone just goes to their wheelhouse and says, 'What can I do? How can I help out?'" Marquardt said.

The money donated to the community fun will be divided between the victims' families, the people injured and other community needs such as mental health or services for the schools.

"All 100 percent of the dollars that are gifted are going to be given back out to the community," Marquardt said.

Donate to the United for Waukesha Community Fund here.

CBS 58 has put together a full list of upcoming fundraisers and other resources here.