"Calling" sends woman to Newtown

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)  Many have been deeply affected by Friday's school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut.  A Fort Wayne woman said she will be taking action by traveling to the small New England town.

Dawn Allen said the tragedy hit home for her, since she has a seven-year-old daughter. Tuesday night, Allen said she felt a tug to literally go the extra mile.

“I have this pull that I need to be there.  I know that God has his hand on me.  I know that there's something I'm supposed to do with my daughter,” Allen said.  “If I could be that messenger for the city of Fort Wayne, that's what I wanted to do.”

Allen and her daughter are now planning an 11-hour road trip.  Starting Wednesday morning Allen has already raised some money, toys, snowflakes, and stuffed animals.

She'll be taking a car load of supplies Friday evening and plans to return Sunday night.  Allen hopes it will not only serve as a life lesson for her daughter, but impact a community in mourning.

“I can't explain it.  I just feel that I need to be there even if it's to change one person's day,” Allen said.  “If I could just touch one person while I'm there, I know that I was there for a reason.”

There are many different ways to help the Newtown, Connecticut community:

• Donate money to the Sandy Hook Support Fund .
• Participate in the Helping Hands Project.   Newtown teachers are asking classrooms around the country to put hand prints on pieces of printer paper and then send it to the school district.
• Get involved with Snowflakes for Sandy Hook .
• Contact the Red Cross for ways to volunteer.

For more information on Allen’s trip to Newtown, contact her at (260) 414-8912.