New group works to provide resources, end violence

COLUMBIA — Following recent violence in Columbia, a group called Boone County Community Against Violence has been formed.

The group was founded by Shaunda Hamilton who lost her daughter Nadria Wright back in September, after she was shot and killed.

Hamilton said she started the group to help others through what she went through.

"Just kind of going through that process of the grieving portion of the funeral and all of that, I saw that there were a lot of missing pieces for people who were going through grieving and I just wanted to help other people be able to get through those processes," Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the group will work to try to combat violence and provide resources.

"Helping people if they need to get counseling appointments set up, if they need to have someone go to the court with them, if they need to have someone go to the school to talk about their children, whatever kind of support they need, we want to be here to help," Hamilton said.

The group is working with Columbia pastor James Gray who helps families dealing with such loss.

Gray said the group wants to come to people with the resources, instead of people having to come to them for help.

He said the group is proactive to fixing the problems in the community.

"We need to do something in the schools, we need to do something about mental illness, we need to do stuff about suicides," Gray said.

Gray said their efforts don't just stop in Jefferson City. They hope to help Jefferson City and nearby communities.

The next Boone County Community meeting is January 5th from 2:15 p.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in the Friends Room.