"Orlando is hurt and broken:" Amar Kaleka, whose father died in Sikh Temple shooting, works to help
ORLANDO -- All of the roads surrounding the Pulse nightclub -- the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history were opened to traffic for the first time in a week-and-a-half on Tuesday, June 21st. This, as loved ones continue to grieve the 49 lives lost when Omar Mateen, who died during a gun battle with police, entered Pulse nightclub early on June 12th and opened fire.
Amar Kaleka
Amar Kaleka knows firsthand what it's like to lose a loved one in a mass shooting. Kaleka's father was killed on August 5th, 2012 during a mass shooting at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek.
FOX6 News spoke with Kaleka while he was in Orlando on Tuesday.
"Orlando is definitely hurt and broken and they're feeling the brunt of the shock right now," Kaleka said.
Satwant Singh Kaleka -- Amar Kaleka's late father
Kaleka served on the board of the National Compassion Fund. He is working to help the survivors of the Orlando mass shooting, and the families of those who died.
"The trauma, the grief, the hospital bills, the funeral bills. A lot of people are losing their jobs," Kaleka said.
Kaleka has previously responded to mass shootings in Sandy Hook and Charleston.
He says what he lived through on August 5th, 2012 in Oak Creek has helped him to connect with other victims.
"I need to know how they feel in order to do my part -- which is a bit of grief counseling. I talk to counselors themselves and they ask me questions and all I do is respond and tell them what happened to me," Kaleka said.
Sikh temple shooting
Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek
Six Sikh temple shooting
Makeshift memorial at S Orange and Miller Street.
Kaleka said with this latest tragedy, he hasn't noticed the same level of financial assistance that he's seen before.
"It's been very, very, very difficult to get the same type of support for this tragedy as we've seen with other tragedies because the community was rainbow or LGBT," Kaleka said.
Kaleka tells FOX6 News the "National Compassion Fund" isn't completely set up yet. It should be ready within the next seven to 10 days.
Vigil in Orlando
Fundraiser for Orlando mass shooting victims' families at Chubby's Cheesesteaks in Milwaukee
On Tuesday evening, businesses in Milwaukee joined together for a fundraiser to help those impacted by this tragedy.
Chubby's Cheesesteaks, along with Polish Nail Bar and Eyebrow Envy are working with the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center to raise money for the families of the victims.
"To show that we stand with Orlando you know? As a country. Any time any part of the country is hurt, we're all hurt, and we want to show that nothing is going to keep us down," Jessica Kreidl, Chubby's Cheesesteaks manager said.
Fundraiser for Orlando mass shooting victims' families at Chubby's Cheesesteaks in Milwaukee
Chubby's is located near Oakland and North and is open until 2:00 a.m.
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