CENTRAL — More than a month after police say Baton Rouge Police Sergeant Caleb Eisworth was intentionally hit by a pickup truck, the community is rallying around him and his family in a big way.
Locals Bar and Kitchen Central hosted a benefit for Sgt. Eisworth that raised $18,762. The fundraiser followed news that doctors had to amputate both of Eisworth’s legs above the knee. Doctors say they’re cautiously optimistic that this was the hurdle that will allow him to better recover.
Stormie Hill, a longtime friend of Eisworth, helped organize the fundraiser event.
“We were busy, busy, busy, all day,” Hill said. “We had people from everywhere, literally all over the state of Louisiana. And then we had some come from Houston.”
Hill and five others worked for about a month reaching out to businesses and community members for donations and planning the day. Everything, from the food to the music, the silent auction items, was donated.
“We had the pastalaya, and we sold out of that pretty quickly,” she said. “We had the silent auction and a raffle with different prizes. Then we did a 50/50, raffle for $1 a ticket. The woman who won that donated her half back to the family.
“Everybody was so helpful. It was great. It was such a community thing, and honestly, I feel like you don’t get that anywhere else,” Hill said when describing the day. “Everyone was so amazing. They kind of mingled all together. If you didn’t know them, you found out who they were before you left. They were so supportive, and they wanted to help.”
Hill said Sgt. Eisworth is someone people gravitate to. “He never met a stranger. He made everything fine, and he can make you laugh even when you don’t want to laugh,” she said. “This is definitely going to be a long road, so we’re not done yet.”
More benefits are planned in the coming weeks, including a gun raffle that’s already raised money. Hill is also organizing more events and created a GoFundMe for those who couldn’t attend but want to support the family.
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