"Prayers for Taylor" T-Shirts Now Available

Supporters of Prairieview School freshman Taylor Hale can now show their support with a T-shirt.

Laura Hess, a Hale family friend, has started selling “Prayers for Taylor” T-shirts. The shirts are white and come in sizes small to XXL. The tees cost $24 and all proceeds will go to the Hale family to help offset Taylor’s medical costs.

Hale, 14, was severely injured after . She was in the intensive care unit until Friday, when she was moved to her own room on the pediatric floor at Blank Children’s Hospital. She is currently in therapy and rehabilitation.

“She’s really making progress,” said Hess. “It’s a long road ahead and she’s been laying still for 10 days, so she’s really weak. Other than that, she’s doing good. She thinks she’s going to be cheering at the next football game.”

Fundraising efforts are so far successful, Hess said. She and several other volunteers have raised almost $4,000 through the sale of bracelets, T-shirts and private donations. On Friday night at Waukee High School’s homecoming game, Hess said they raised $1,600 for Taylor and her family through the sale of bracelets and T-shirt pre-sales.

An update on Hale’s CarePages site today said, “We continue to be amazed by the support and love shown by the Waukee Community and thank each and every one of you for your continued prayers.”

Hess is currently taking orders for T-shirts and bracelets. T-shirts are $24 each, bracelets are $5. Orders can be sent to prayersfortaylor@gmail.com. Please include the item you’re ordering, quantity, size (for tees only), name, address and telephone number in your e-mail.

Other ways to donate

Hess has also placed donation canisters at a growing number of area Kum & Go gas stations: at the University Avenue store across from Waukee High School at the store on Fourth Street in Waukee, at 156th Street and Hickman Road in Clive, at Jordan Creek Parkway and Vista Drive in West Des Moines, and on Jordan Creek Parkway across from the entrance to Jordan Creek Town Center.

Casey's General Stores in the area also have donation canisters. They can be found in these stores: Hickman and Warrior Lane in Waukee, Boone Drive and University Avenue in Waukee, and 2250 Woodlands Parkway in Clive.

In addition to the canisters, T-shirts and bracelets, accounts have been set up at Northwest Bank in West Des Moines and all Wells Fargo and Liberty Bank locations to help the family with medical expenses.

At Northwest Bank, send checks payable to Prayers for Taylor, 5700 University Ave., #100, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

To donate at any Liberty Bank, mention the Taylor Hale fund, and at Wells Fargo, reference account number 7735584307 to donate.