Kool Kone, community raise $25,000 for family of accident victim
Kool Kone employees and the Wareham community rallied in support of the family of 20-year-old Jordan Lopes, who died in a car crash on Nov. 17, and raised $25,000 to cover funeral costs and other expenses.
"A lot of people came out of the woodwork and just donated," said Tom Strom, owner of Kool Kone, where Lopes worked since age 14.
Strom ran a special at the popular Marion Road restaurant. Customers could stop by, say they were "here for Jordan," and donate $10. In turn, Kool Kone would issue a coupon for fish and chips, a "Blue Plate Special," or a chicken finger plate with a large drink and an ice cream.
The fundraiser will continue through this weekend.
Strom enlisted the Kool Kone employees' help in spreading the word about the fundraiser. He was hoping to dole out 100 coupons.
Before the coupons were even printed, Kool Kone had raised $6,000.
"Everyone just kicked in. The kids kicked in, they got all their friends," said Strom. "They went out. They went door to door."
Not expecting many people to want to feast on fried food and ice cream during the week of Thanksgiving, Strom allowed customers to take the coupon to use next season.
But many decided to eat when donating, and others couldn't have cared less about the food.
"Some wanted the food, some didn't. Some just came down to donate whatever they had," said Strom, "$1 to $500."
On Monday, Strom opened a piece of mail sent from Texas. The envelope contained a check for $600 in Lopes' memory.
"I'm really proud of the town," said Strom. "Unbelievable, the response."
Lopes was a passenger in the front seat of a 2008 Chevrolet Impala, which first-responders found on its side in a wooded area on Charge Pond Road shortly after 3 a.m. on Nov. 17, according to Wareham Police.
The driver of the vehicle, 20-year-old Jonathan Lydon of Wareham, suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Tobey Hospital, police said.
No charges have been filed, Wareham Police Lt. Kevin Walsh said on Monday, adding that the "investigation has not concluded and is ongoing."
Lopes is survived by his mother, Joslyn Redd of West Wareham, his father, Jonathan Lopes of Hyannis, two sisters, and a brother.
Lopes graduated from Wareham High School in 2010. He was attending Cape Cod Community College, studying business management. He was a weekly host at WKKL, the college's radio station.
The funeral services were covered with the money raised, and now the funds are going toward unforeseen expenses, including helping the family with bills while Redd takes some time off work, said Strom.
"In the next couple of weeks, we're going to figure out how to set up a scholarship to Wareham High in [Lopes'] name," Strom added. "It was a tragic accident and he's just a good kid. This shouldn't have happened to him."