SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
If you found out someone you know was brutally attacked, what would you do?
For co-workers of one employee, the answer was easy.
It's another day in the office for employees at the Department of Human Services in Sioux City.
But someone is missing, a co-worker and a friend.
"It is a lot better today than it was two weeks ago," said Cathy Gray, Department of Human Services.
Mary Tope was critically hurt on June 13th after, prosecutors say, 23-year-old James Kroll broke into her and her boyfriend's home, brutally attacking them.
Mary's boyfriend, Jeffery Moravek, died from his injuries.
Initial reaction from Mary's supervisor, disbelief.
"We were all very, very shocked by the trauma and the tragedy of it all," said Gray.
Now in rehabilitation, Mary is fighting towards recovery.
One nurse Mary has worked with in the past says she wouldn't expect anything less.
"She's got a great family, and sometimes that's enough to pull through this and come back to where you were before," said Karin Ward, nurse at Mercy Medical Center.
"Obviously, it sounds like she's doing a good job and taking baby steps, and that's a good thing," said Ward.
Now, co-workers at the DHS are joining up with the Mercy Child Advocacy Center and Juvenile Court Services to put on a benefit for their friend.
They're banding together with one common hope.
"We've had some good successes in the past of doing a picnic and also with being over the lunch hour, business members would be able to come and joins us for lunch and to support Mary," said Beth Ortmann, Juvenile Court Services.
"The community knows that when tragedies happen like this, that we can come together and that we can focus on supporting the victims of these horrendous types of things when they happen," said Gray.
A source of strength for someone who couldn't be more deserving.
"Faith and inspired service and healing, and it goes along with hospitality and respect and compassion and all those things, which, I think of Mary whenever I think of those things," said Ward.
The picnic benefiting Mary and her family will take place Thursday, July 12th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 9th and Douglas Street.
The event will feature silent auction items, along with live music.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at the Department of Human Services or Juvenile Court Services.
Freewill donations will be accepted as well.
For more information on how you can donate, just click here.
