Cookout and fundraiser for the families of Corey Becker and Amber Moyer
Where: At the Bargain Depot, 1800 12th Street, Monroe, across from the police station.
When: From 10 a.m. until closing Friday, April 30 and Saturday, May 1.
What: Cookout with brats, hamburgers and hot-dogs and pop for sale. Bake sale, door prizes. Raffle Tickets ($2 or 6 for $10) available and prizes on display at the Bargain Depot. To donate prizes or food items, call 325-7253 and ask for Cody Bates or Janet Wunschel.
MONROE - For Cody Bates, a 19-year-old from Juda, tragedy and recovery comes in twos.
Bates lost two of his best friends, Corey Becker, 18, and Amber Moyer, 19, both of Monroe, April 18. The teens were killed in a tragic two-car accident northeast of Monticello.
Two days later he planned a two-day benefit to raise funds for their families, complete with cookout, bake sale, raffle, door prizes and more.
"I want to lift a burden off their families. They have more important things to worry about," he said.
Bates has been going door to door at Monroe businesses putting up posters and requesting donations for the benefit.
The outpouring of generosity has been enormous, with almost every store offering something, he said.
"The community has been giving big in this hard time, for sure. I really appreciate it," he said.
Bates started a Facebook page simply titled "Cookout and Fundraiser for Corey Becker and Amber Moyer," April 20 to raise awareness of the event and to send out invitations.
"Right away, 200 confirmed that day," he said.
Within two days, Facebook users shared the invitation with 1,700 people. Almost 400 have confirmed that they would attend, 314 people have responded with "maybe" and another 605 invitations are awaiting replies.
On Tuesday, the event's "wall" of comments was two pages long. Some people are offering to bring baked goods and help with the event.
Bates and Moyer were classmates at Abe Lincoln grade school, Monroe, although Bates later moved to Juda.
"We stayed friends ever since," he said.
He met Becker after high school.
"When I first met Corey, I knew right away, we would be best friends," he said.
Bates, Becker and another friend, Chris Olen, were known as the Tri-pods, Bates said.
"We just did our own thing, making people laugh," he said.
Today, Bates is doing his own thing, almost single-handedly, putting together a benefit to honor his friends.
"I figured they'd do the same thing for me," he said.
Bates lost two of his best friends, Corey Becker, 18, and Amber Moyer, 19, both of Monroe, April 18. The teens were killed in a tragic two-car accident northeast of Monticello.
Two days later he planned a two-day benefit to raise funds for their families, complete with cookout, bake sale, raffle, door prizes and more.
"I want to lift a burden off their families. They have more important things to worry about," he said.
Bates has been going door to door at Monroe businesses putting up posters and requesting donations for the benefit.
The outpouring of generosity has been enormous, with almost every store offering something, he said.
"The community has been giving big in this hard time, for sure. I really appreciate it," he said.
Bates started a Facebook page simply titled "Cookout and Fundraiser for Corey Becker and Amber Moyer," April 20 to raise awareness of the event and to send out invitations.
"Right away, 200 confirmed that day," he said.
Within two days, Facebook users shared the invitation with 1,700 people. Almost 400 have confirmed that they would attend, 314 people have responded with "maybe" and another 605 invitations are awaiting replies.
On Tuesday, the event's "wall" of comments was two pages long. Some people are offering to bring baked goods and help with the event.
Bates and Moyer were classmates at Abe Lincoln grade school, Monroe, although Bates later moved to Juda.
"We stayed friends ever since," he said.
He met Becker after high school.
"When I first met Corey, I knew right away, we would be best friends," he said.
Bates, Becker and another friend, Chris Olen, were known as the Tri-pods, Bates said.
"We just did our own thing, making people laugh," he said.
Today, Bates is doing his own thing, almost single-handedly, putting together a benefit to honor his friends.
"I figured they'd do the same thing for me," he said.