<p>In the days following what is known as the Batman shooting that took place during a midnight showing of <em>The Dark Knight Rises</em> in mid-July, you couldn&#8217;t open a newspaper or turn on the TV without seeing media coverage pertaining to the catastrophic event. With twelve killed and 58 more injured, it&#8217;s no wonder that this tragedy was on everyone&#8217;s lips. However, it&#8217;s been four months and though the media coverage has died down, the emotional turmoil and the struggle for physical recovery for the victims has not.<br />
The outpour of support from the community was and continues to be tremendous. However, if ever there was a time to be persistent, it is now – some of the injured victims face millions of dollars in medical bills; others stand up to the costs of burying their loved ones. Such loss is a hardship that is difficult to fathom and any type or level of support brings those who are struggling a bit closer to recovery and moving on. However, many members of the community are reluctant to make monetary donations, as unfortunately, some of these gifts don&#8217;t always make it into the right hands.<br />
The Huffington Post, for example, is hosting a public charity called the New Venture Fund. The New Venture Fund is especially for funding relief projects, and in this case, it will be spreading the donations amongst other charities as well as hospitals and churches that are involved with the victims of the Colorado shooting and their loved ones.<br />
There&#8217;s also a specific fund set up for Ashley Moser, a 25-year-old mother who was injured in the shooting and tragically lost her 6-year-old daughter. She is still in emotional and physical recovery, so the Help Ash fund has been set up to assist them in overcoming the medical bills that are still stacking up. If you visit the website, there are many other ways you can get involved in helping this family.<br />
Another charity is being run by the Children&#8217;s Hospital Colorado, at which six of the Aurora victims were being treated. With the help of donations, the hospital will cover the medical costs for injured victims who are not insured. This is an amazingly gracious movement that makes it possible for even the less fortunate to get the assistance they need, and a wonderful example of the community coming together. If you&#8217;re looking to offer your support and donate to the Colorado shooting victims, there are plenty of legitimate charities currently accepting donations; it&#8217;s simply important to research before you act.<br />
You should never hesitate to donate to victims or their families in the time of need – you simply must be sure that the charity to which you are donating is directly affiliated with the victims and their support systems.<br />
Sara Klemowitz is part of an elite team of writers who have contributed to hundreds of blogs and news sites.</p>

The Aurora Shooting Aftermath: How You Can Help
