Now and then, a group of people can just stagger one with an amazing act of kindness and charity. One such event has arisen, quite literally, out of the ashes of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan, which, after suffering a horrendous attack by a man driven by irrational hatred, has raised over $150,000 for the family of their attacker.
ACT OF MERCY: Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have collectively raised more than $140,000 for the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 1, 2025
Sanford killed four people in an attack on a church in Michigan. pic.twitter.com/DOrpRY6VzY
We must note that the donations are not just coming from Grand Blanc, or even from Michigan, but from members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the country. This is an amazing act of charity, and one that I suspect few people would emulate.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have collectively raised more than $150,000 for the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter who killed four people in an attack on a church in Michigan.
The GiveSendGo campaign, as of Wednesday morning, has reached at least $152,000. On Sunday, Sanford opened fire at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township before setting the property ablaze.
"One of the families that suffered a terrible loss on that day was the family of Thomas Jacob Sanford, the shooter. Sanford leaves behind a wife and children who must be grieving," wrote David Butler, the organizer of the fundraising effort.
Butler described himself as an "ordinary member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," with no connections to either Sanford or Grand Blanc Township. Those who recently donated identified themselves as LDS church members from states including Missouri, Hawaii and Utah.
That's amazing and inspiring.
Granted, as of this writing, there's no evidence that Thomas Jacob Sanford's family had anything to do with his planning and carrying out the attack. All indications are that they are innocent and, in some ways, victims themselves of this madman.
UPDATES: Ten Shot, Two Killed in Michigan LDS Church Shooting; Suspect's Rampage Lasted 8 Minutes
David Butler, though, is carrying out one of the more remarkable acts of charity and forgiveness. I've ever seen. I doubt I could be so generous. To this, I can only respond with the words of Rudyard Kipling: You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
Mr. Butler continues:
"[Sanford’s family] will face financial hardship and psychological trauma as a result of this week's horrifying events. On top of that, one of the Sanford sons deals with serious medical challenges that require ongoing care, treatment, and specialized support," Butler added. "In the past, the family attempted to raise funds for him, but with limited success."
"Every donation will go to help provide for the Sanford family daily needs, provide for ongoing medical treatment, and create some stability in a time of heartbreak and upheaval," he also said.
That's a generosity of spirit all too uncommon today.
It's acts like this that give one a little hope for humanity. It's acts like this, whether taken in the name of religion or just human decency, that make one think that there may be some redeeming qualities in mankind. It's not only an expression of charity and forgiveness, it's a moral act, one group of victims helping another. They aren't relying on government, not waiting around for someone else to do something; they saw a need, and took care of it themselves.
That's the inklings of a silver lining behind the big, dark cloud of what happened last Sunday, in Grand Blanc, Michigan.
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