Barbecue Fundraiser for Teacher Hurt in Mexico

People in one community have made it their mission to help a teacher in need.

Missy Jones was critically hurt when a van fell off a cliff in Mexico last month.

She was on an educational trip with 11 other people, two of whom died.

The community put on a blood drive and bar-be-que fundraiser to help Jones on her long road to recovery.

If you wanted your meal delivered, this bar-be-que was ready to go.

Volunteers made plates of chicken and links for most of the day as part of a fundraiser for Little Cypress-Mauriceville teacher Missy Jones.

That included the superintendent.

"It means so much to us and it means so much to the family and all of the people that know her and love her," says Pauline Hargrove, the Little Cypress-Mauriceville School District Superintendent.

Hargrove said people who don't know Jones stopped by to lend a hand, or drop off a donation.

"Expenses are just so high, whether medical, of course her husband's not able to work and she's not able to work," says Hargrove.

Jamie Lyle says, "it's good to be there with my family."

Jamie Lyle is Jones' daughter. She says her mother's improving and she'll be able to see her again this weekend at a Houston hospital.

"I go in there and talk to her a lot and she does better when people are talking to her. I'm sure she enjoys the company," says Lyle.

But the entire day was about raising money for Jones and her family.

Whether it was with food, or through blood donations.

"We've been busy all day, been steady, so we're doing really good," says Heidi Henry with Lifeshare Blood Centers.

Although people waited outside the bus to give blood, Lifeshare will be writing a check to Methodist Hospital where Jones is recovering.

"They don't accept our units, so we're donating $10 to Methodist for each person for Missy's medical bills," says Henry.

And Jamie just has one thing to say to everyone who's been helping.

"I really want people to keep praying because it's really been helping a whole lot," says Lyle.

If you would like to help Missy Jones, you can send a donation to Bridge City State Bank under the "Missy Jones Community Support Group."

Or, you can visit Lifeshare Blood Centers in the Golden Triangle.