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# Farmers Market fund reaches $120K
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/farmers-market-fund-reaches-120k/
- Published: 2003-08-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T02:47:14.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Business, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Market victims’ assistance fund still raising money*

*By Daily Press staff*

The fund established to help victims of the July 16 Farmers’ Market crash has raised more than $120,000.

In just over a month, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce has been able to raise tens of thousands from the community to financially assist victims and their families in the short term.

The fund was set up within 48 hours after the accident that claimed the lives of 10 and injured close to 80 people when Santa Monica resident Russell Weller, 86, drove through the busy Farmers Market on Arizona Avenue.

Several thousand dollars have been distributed so far and applications from victims and their families who were injured are being reviewed.

Chamber executive director Kathy Dodson said more victims are beginning to come forward, with about one a day inquiring on how to apply for assistance. Caseworkers, who are local business leaders, work with individuals in assessing their needs.

“They need help first getting through the application process,” Dodson said. “The hardest part is that they don’t know what they need. It’s a lot of hand holding.”

While hundreds of individuals and local businesses have donated to the fund, larger corporations like Wells Fargo, US Bank, Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Casa del Mar, Shutters on the Beach, Bank of America and First Federal Bank have donated large sums.

Wild Oats will present a $3,900 check on Wednesday to the fund.

The two stores located in Santa Monica on July 28 held a 5 percent day, where 5 percent of that day’s total sales went to the cause. In addition, the stores set up collection cans for customers to donate to the fund with the promise that Wild Oats would match the money collected. The total money raised from both efforts was nearly $4,000.

To donate, individuals are asked to either log onto the chamber’s Web site at www.smchamber.com, or call (310) 393-9825, ext. 10.

If you are a business owner and want to donate a portion of your sales to the fund, contact the Bayside District Corp. at (310) 393-8355.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 19, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/081903.pdf?ref=smdp.com)