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Volunteers Help Raise Money For Jada's Funeral

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Jun 29, 2009 9:11 pm US/Central

Volunteers Help Raise Money For Jada's Funeral

Reporting
Pamela Jones
CHICAGO (CBS) ― The story of little Jada Justice has taken yet another devastating turn. The girl's family says there is no money for a funeral. 

CBS 2's Pamela Jones explains how strangers are working to make sure the toddler gets a proper burial.

Rev. Johnathan Johnson explains his interest this way: "I have younger siblings. I also have youth that I deal with on a day-to-day basis. I have cousins, I have family members and I don't want this to hit home."

It's what pushed this Chicagoan to gather about dozen teens in his youth group to canvass the streets of Chicago, asking residents to help Jada Justice's family lay her to rest.

He says the case puts a face on violence and teach the kids important life lessons, "to show them that this thing that they're doing is real and the violence has to stop."

"Everybody's just devastated -- everybody," says Dawn Valenti of Riders For A Cause. "I am, even though I didn't even know Jada. But I'm just as devastated. Everybody's devastated. They still can't get over the initial shock."

Valenti runs a motorcycle club aimed at stopping violence, too. She spent time handing out flyers in Indiana when police were still looking for the toddler and remains in constant contact with the family.

"We offered them a motorcycle escort for the burial, and the mother accepted," she said.

Sabrina Harris knows what justice's family is going through. Her daughter was murdered in 1998. She vows to lend the victim's mom advice on what she's learned about the process of saying goodbye.

"It's going to be hard, it's going to hurt," she said.

Angie Balboa is a friend of the family says they welcome help, even in the smallest amount. 

She says she spent the day trying to set up a fund at a bank.
And she expects that to be complete Tuesday. We'll get that information to you as soon as it becomes available.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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