MANITOWOC, Wis. (WFRV) – A fundraiser aimed at providing a pick-me-up for volunteers who have been diligently searching for Elijah Vue took place on Friday evening.
The little boy has been missing for nearly two months now. He was reported missing on Feb. 20.
“We need as much support as possible,” said Veronica Blackmon a search volunteer and fundraiser organizer.
The Mikadow Theatre hosted the fundraiser with proceeds going to assist volunteers with search efforts. Blackmon said they’ll use the money to purchase supplies, everything from flashlights and whistles to food and gas.
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The fundraiser included a magic and bubble show, food, and donation baskets. Attendees had to donate at least $5 to get into the event.
Searchers remind the public that their efforts require supplies.
“If it was your child you would be out there every single day, I would look to the ends of the earth for my child,” said Blackmon.
Several of Elijah’s relatives showed up to the event.
“It’s times like these that we need this the most, we appreciate what the community has done for us all the love and support,” said Elijah’s aunt Sue Xiong.
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She said that family members are leaning on each other and the community to get through this tough time. They said they’re still holding onto hope that Elijah is alive and that they can find him and bring him home.
“Without their (the community) support we probably wouldn’t have been able to continue our searches,” said Xiong.
In addition to donations, search leaders said they need more people to join their search parties.
There’s a search scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Mikadow Theatre on Saturday.
There’s also a new billboard in Manitowoc for Elijah. It’s near the corner of Rapids Road and Custer Street.
