Businesses join church in raising money for crash victim's family
BY JASON KOTOWSKI, Californian staff writer jkotowski@bakersfield.com
The death of a 41-year-old Bakersfield woman in a crash saddened two local business owners so much that they joined the effort to raise money for her family.
The Limousine Scene and Prime Cut are donating 20 percent of their revenue Wednesday to the family of Michelle Maxwell. The mother of three died Feb. 2 after a pickup driven by an off-duty Kern County firefighter police say was drunk plowed into her car. Maxwell's daughter Michaela Maxwell, 15, was driving the car and suffered several injuries.
The firefighter, Mitchell Green, remained in critical condition Tuesday at Fresno Community Regional Medical Center.
The decision to help the family was easy, Prime Cut co-owner Michelle Crist said.
"I'm a mom. I have a family," Crist said. "It's just sad. You hate to hear about anything like that happening."
Jim Luff, general manager of The Limousine Scene, contacted the family's church to see if they accepted credit card donations by phone because he didn't have time to go in person. When told that the church -- Grace Assembly of God -- couldn't take contributions over the phone, Luff decided to use the limo service to accept credit and debit donations 24 hours a day.
Luff called Crist and used his contacts in the local music scene to get Randy Emmett, Tanner Byrom, Chuck Seaton and Chris Neufeld to perform at Prime Cut from 8 to 11 p.m. Wednesday. Donations can be made during the concert and limos will be available to provide safe rides home. Luff said the last thing he wanted was for anyone to drive home from the concert intoxicated.
Karen West, assistant to Pastor Eddie Summers at Grace Assembly of God, said she didn't have an exact figure for the amount of money collected so far, but enough had been raised by Tuesday to pay for the funeral. Additional money collected will go toward the family.
West said church members are also thinking of Green.
"Our hearts go out to him too," West said. "We've been praying for him."
To make credit and debit donations, call The Limousine Scene at 831-7955. Parties of eight or more can make reservations at Prime Cut by calling 831-1413. The restaurant is located at 9500 Brimhall Road.
A memorial service for Maxwell is scheduled for noon Friday at Grace Assembly of God at 2800 Larson Lane.
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