Wis. group starts letter writing campaign for Connecticut shooting families

WAUKESHA - Two college students in Wisconsin are starting a letter writing campaign for Connecticut families. It's through their organization called "Ordinary Heroes."

As mourning continues in Newtown, Connecticut for the 26 victims in Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, Waukesha North graduates Zach Dunton and Kelsie Wendelberger are reaching out.

They're the founders of Ordinary Heroes.

"We're really giving sort of a priceless gift for a priceless loss these people are dealing with. That could have been anyone we know. That could have been any of us. Just because it happened in Connecticut doesn't mean it doesn't hit close to home for every single person," Wendelberger said.

Dunton and Wendelberger say it's their goal to unite the country and reach out to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School. 20 students were killed in the shooting, along with six adults.

Wendelberger and Dunton started the Ordinary Heroes Fund after the mass shootings in Aurora, Colorado. Now they're using their organization to get people to send hope, in a letter, to the families reeling in Newtown.

"What we're trying to do is inspire as many people as we can across the nation to write a heartfelt letter to the families and the school. What we're hoping for is that the families know they're not alone and they're cared for, and that we're here for them," Dunton said.

Their goal is to get people from all over the country to sit down and write one or more letter.

"For me, personally, it was important to step in because this is an issue that everyone can relate to and a very sad tragedy," Wendelberger said.

The Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut teaches over 600 students. Now, Ordinary Heroes wants each family to receive hundreds of letters of encouragement.