Thousands Raised in Impromptu Donation Campaign for Fargo Police Officers

FARGO, ND (KDLM) – What began as a simple act of kindness for the families of officers involved in Friday’s tragedy turned into an outpouring of community support over the weekend.

Melissa Sampson wanted to do something small, offering to go pick up snacks for the families if people wanted to Venmo her a couple of dollars. But she wasn’t expecting to raise as much money as she did.

“My husband is a police officer,” Sampson told KDLM on Saturday. “My first reaction to the thought that it could have been him involved in this was ‘How can I help?’ The first thing that came to mind was food and snacks so they don’t have to worry about any of that when they’re working. So I post it with the expectation that I would get around $300, but it has turned into so much more than that.”

Staff at Sanford Hospital in Fargo accepts a couple of carts full of donated snacks (Photo: Melissa Sampson)

At 10:00 am on Monday, Sampson’s Venmo had received more than $5,000 for the families. On Sunday, Sampson was able to purchase a couple of vehicle-fulls of snacks and drop them off at the Fargo Police Department, Sanford ER and ICU, the officers at the hospital with the injured officers, Red River Regional Dispatch Center, West Fargo Police Department, FM Ambulance and Cass County Sheriff’s Office – Fargo, ND who is also the main base for the ND Highway Patrol, Moorhead and Clay County.

A van full of snacks and treats is unloaded at the Fargo Police Department (Photo: Melissa Sampson)

She also had enough left over to purchase $1,000 in gift cards for the families of the officers involved in Friday’s ambush, which she will drop off at the Fargo Police Department on Tuesday.

Sampson says she’ll keep her Venmo open for donations until the end of the day on Monday.