TEXARKANA, Texas -- Friends and well-wishers gathered Sunday for food and fellowship in honor of a family slain last week in Nash, Texas.
The meeting site was the parking lot of Vero's Latino Store on New Boston Road, which was filled with about 15 food and other vendors, a bounce house and music. The scores in attendance were there to remember Ruben Olalde and Aida Garcia, daughter Lisbet and son Oliver, who were killed Tuesday in their home on Lemon Acres.
Caeser Olalde, the family's 18-year-old son and brother, has been arrested and charged with capital murder of multiple people in the killings.
"The main purpose is to get funds to help the Olalde family," said Juan Bustamante, Vero's owner and one of the organizers of the fundraiser.
Bustamante and fellow organizer Olivia Hernandez, who owns Vero's Event Center, set a fundraising goal of $5,000 to help defray funeral expenses for the family.
By Sunday afternoon, the Olalde family GoFundMe account set up by surviving daughter Diana Olalde had raised $59,408 of its $50,000 goal.
The fundraiser Sunday started at 11 a.m. By 12:30 p.m., 500 guests had already attended.
"To be honest, I did not expect so many people," Bustamante said.
All proceeds -- from ticket and vendor sales -- will be donated to the family funeral fund. Donations to an account for the Olalde family can be made at any Red River Credit Union.
Bustamante said the outpouring of support for the Olalde family has crossed cultural lines.
"It's not just the Hispanic community, no one race or color," he said.
Nor has the support been limited to one county.
The Garcia family came from Dallas to set up a booth of mangoes, trinkets and stuffed toys. They used to live in the Texarkana area and got to know the Olaldes during their time here.
Hernandez said the Garcias learned about the fundraiser through Facebook and reached out to her to ask to participate.
Like the Garcias, Hernandez also has a connection to the Olaldes. Diana Olalde's husband has done house remodeling work for her.
Diana did not attend Sunday's fundraiser, Hernandez said.
"It's so hard for her," she said, adding that she and Bustamante try to keep in contact with Diana through visits and the providing of meals.
To Hernandez, the attendance and donations at the fundraiser are a testament to the spirit of Texarkana.
"They have no limit. It just shows the humanity. The generosity is 100%," she said.
Remedios Acosta, left, and Fabiola Soria prepare tortillas for making enchiladas Sunday afternoon, May 28, 2023, at Vero's Latino Store in Texarkana, Texas. The women were one of about 15 vendors participating in a fundraiser for Ruben Olalde and Aida Garcia, their daughter Lisbet and son Oliver. The family were killed Tuesday, May 23 at their home in Nash, Texas. (Staff photo by Stevon Gamble)
People line up to purchase tickets for the Olalde family fundraiser Sunday, May 28, 2023, at Vero's Latino Store in Texarkana, Texas. Proceeds will go toward funeral expenses for the family, who were slain Tuesday, May 23 at their home in Nash, Texas. (Staff photo by Stevon Gamble)