5th annual ‘Lucia Bremer Food Drive’ honors Henrico teen, brings together community
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A community food drive organized by loved ones of a Henrico middle schooler who was shot and killed in 2021 continues to keep her memories alive through acts of service.
Lucia Bremer's family and community members held a food drive on Saturday, March 21, at the Canterbury Recreation Association in honor of her memory. Organizers said Bremer was a member of Canterbury, and her family remains members of the organization after her death.
"Lucia was a beautiful little girl. She was full of light and a vibrant part of our community," said Centerbury facility manager Angie Hutchinson. "This is a way that we can remember her."
On March 26, 2021, 13-year-old Bremer of Henrico was walking home with a friend when Dylan Williams, a boy neither girl knew, approached them with a gun. He shot Bremer multiple times and killed her. Williams, who was 14 years old at the time, was tried as an adult and sentenced to 60 years in prison.
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
The "Lucia Bremer Food Drive," now in its fifth year, has two missions: honor Bremer's memory and help provide food to folks who need a little more support through its partnership with Central Virginia nonprofit Feed More. Hutchinson said Bremer's parents hold the event each year on the anniversary of her death.
"Rather than dreading the day, they decided that they would spread the light and asked us all to do acts of service," she said.
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
(Mark Morales/8News)
Since the annual commemoration began five years ago, the food drive has raised more than $20,000 for Feed More. The family-oriented event brought together community members and volunteers, some were making signs and others were packing food.
"The whole point of this is to support Feed More, but also to spread the light in our community and have a positive event for people to participate in," Hutchinson said. "I love how our community comes together to support this event."
