NEW FLORENCE, Pa. — After the death of an officer who was killed in the line of duty last month, one local parish is bringing the community together to give thanks and share prayers of hope.
"After everything that happened last week, we felt we needed to come together as a community and heal,” the Rev. Sharon Hamley of New Florence United Methodist Church said.
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Hamley said she didn't know St. Clair Township Officer Lloyd Reed, who was shot and killed Nov. 28 after responding to a domestic call in New Florence, other than a friendly wave to say "Hello" during her walks around town. However, she said his death is bringing new light to the community.
"Before all the bad news happened around here, we've been wanting to come together and help each other out and be close together,” Hamley said.
She and another minister organized a healing service for Reed and all the first responders in the area.
"We want to acknowledge that they go into places we don't go into, and they need our thanks and hopefully this is a way to give them thanks,” Hamley said.
The service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at the New Florence United Methodist Church and will be followed by a dinner at the New Florence Volunteer Fire Department at approximately 6 p.m.
"Everything just fell into place because the community came together,” Hamley said.
She said she hopes that same strength in unity will show up in donations for Reed’s grieving family.
"It's a way to say thank you for what he did, and a way to let (Reed’s wife) know that we're looking out for and her family,” Hamley said.
All donations collected during Monday night’s dinner will go to Reed’s family.
WPXI
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