Mayor Scaffidi launching non-profit "Oak Creek Cares"

OAK CREEK (WITI) -- After the tragedy last summer at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, where six people lost their lives in a mass shooting incident, people began to come together for a common cause -- to help each other get through a very difficult time. Now, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi is hoping to build on that, with a new initiative.

"A lot of times communities are really taken aback or destroyed by what happens when a violent act like that happens. I saw nothing but the best in people. I continue to be impressed by how people responded to that," Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi said.

Since August 5th, 2012, Mayor Scaffidi says he has noticed a big change in the community.

"People that never talked previously got together and had a conversation or had a cup of coffee. People would show up at other places of worship that weren`t their faiths and said 'how can I help you' or 'let me share the day with you.' That never happened before," Scaffidi said.

Building on that, Scaffidi is looking for more positive change, with the non-profit organization "Oak Creek Cares." The goal of the organization is to raise money to fund programs to reduce violence in the Oak Creek community.

"I want this to be a program that says local communities can do something about violence. You don`t have to get bogged down in gun control arguments that go nowhere. You don`t have to worry what the federal government`s going to do. We can do things locally," Scaffidi said.

Oak Creek Cares will be funded by donations, like the $10,000 it received from Eder Flags.

""I think it will be a model for other communities to really care and want to make the community better, closer, tighter knit. We`re a community of people. I think there`s strength in that. So I think it`s going to be a great thing for Oak Creek to just trudge forward with that and be an example to other communities," Jodi Goglio with Eder Flags said.

"We just thought what a purpose to try to make a safer community, outreach to the community and just build a network," Goglio said.

"If you have a good idea, we will fund that good idea," Scaffidi said.

An inaugural Oak Creek Cares fundraising event will be held on New Year's Eve at the Oak Creek Community Center.

CLICK HERE to visit the Facebook page for Oak Creek Cares.