McDonald’s fundraiser for Lawrence family raises more than $2,500

The McDonald’s fundraiser for the Lawrence family raised more than $2,500 Wednesday night.

At least 300 people attended the fundraiser, which lasted for three hours Wednesday evening and was held at the McDonald’s on Flanders Road. Twenty percent of profits from all sales during that time was donated to the Lawrence family.

Many of the workers at the restaurant were friends with 17-year-old Danielle Lawrence, who was murdered along with her mother in their Wading River home last month.

“It was the crew that came up with the idea,” said Teresa Smith, marketing manager of the McDonald’s on Route 58.  “A lot of the kids that work here went to school with her.”

The McDonald’s staff on Wednesday was decked out in matching t-shirts that read, “Lawrence family, forever in our thoughts and prayers.”

Many of the workers also know Danielle’s father, Tony Lawrence, who is a physical education teacher at Phillips Avenue Elementary School. “People were coming in and saying such nice things about Mr. Lawrence,” Smith said. “About what a great coach he is, how he helped them get into college.”

Lawrence and his younger daughter, Brandy, both attended the fundraiser. “I think it was a positive thing for them, to see that the community has their back,” Smith said.

After word got out about the event, dozens of local businesses contacted the McDonald’s to see how they could pitch in. Thirty-nine local businesses ended up participating in a Chinese auction at the fundraiser.

“The outpouring of support from the community was absolutely incredible,” Smith said. “We opened up the raffle a couple days beforehand, and people came by just to give us money for the family. They didn’t even want the tickets.”

A GoFundMe page for the Lawrence family is still open for donations.