Fundraiser for Officer Williams
Two Papa John’s locations in Gulfport held a fundraiser today for Officer Shawn Williams. The Gulfport policeman suffered a brain aneurysm last Wednesday.
Officer Williams put his life on the line as a veteran and as a police officer in Gulfport. The community has been returning the favor by donating and supporting his family in their time of need.
Maia Williams, the daughter of Gulfport police officer Shawn Williams, has been by her father’s side hoping for a speedy recovery. Officer Williams has been hospitalized after suffering a brain aneurysm last week. But Maia says the man she calls a ‘fighter’ is showing improvement. “It is pretty nerve wracking when you are there to witness something like that, so for him to be just up and talking now, it’s great.”
Officer Shawn Williams, who’s also a veteran of the U.S. Army, has been with Gulfport P.D. since 2007. Today, Maia joined her brother and other loved ones at Papa John’s Pizza, supporting a fundraiser that will help pay for her dad’s medical bills.
Jourdan Hartshorn, a Papa John’s employee, said “He actually sat with me and jumped my car a couple days ago before all this, so it’s kind of like you know, wait a minute, I just saw you the other day, you know it’s very upsetting right now.”
Hartshorn came up with the idea for the fundraiser in one day. From open until close, Papa John’s on East Pass Road and Crossroads Parkway will donate 20 percent of all proceeds towards Officer Williams’ medical expenses. Papa John’s officials tell News 25 that they don’t open until 10 a.m. but started receiving delivery orders at 9 a.m. and by 11 had to call in more staff to help out.
Maia Williams said, “It’s great. I am thankful for that because he always jokes and when I say he jokes and says things like ‘oh, I don’t have any friends, don’t nobody love me’, so it’s great to see a million people come and show up and support him.”
Papa John’s officials at the East Pass Road location told News 25 just before 5 o’clock they have sold around 330 pizzas.
Officer Williams put his life on the line as a veteran and as a police officer in Gulfport. The community has been returning the favor by donating and supporting his family in their time of need.
Maia Williams, the daughter of Gulfport police officer Shawn Williams, has been by her father’s side hoping for a speedy recovery. Officer Williams has been hospitalized after suffering a brain aneurysm last week. But Maia says the man she calls a ‘fighter’ is showing improvement. “It is pretty nerve wracking when you are there to witness something like that, so for him to be just up and talking now, it’s great.”
Officer Shawn Williams, who’s also a veteran of the U.S. Army, has been with Gulfport P.D. since 2007. Today, Maia joined her brother and other loved ones at Papa John’s Pizza, supporting a fundraiser that will help pay for her dad’s medical bills.
Jourdan Hartshorn, a Papa John’s employee, said “He actually sat with me and jumped my car a couple days ago before all this, so it’s kind of like you know, wait a minute, I just saw you the other day, you know it’s very upsetting right now.”
Hartshorn came up with the idea for the fundraiser in one day. From open until close, Papa John’s on East Pass Road and Crossroads Parkway will donate 20 percent of all proceeds towards Officer Williams’ medical expenses. Papa John’s officials tell News 25 that they don’t open until 10 a.m. but started receiving delivery orders at 9 a.m. and by 11 had to call in more staff to help out.
Maia Williams said, “It’s great. I am thankful for that because he always jokes and when I say he jokes and says things like ‘oh, I don’t have any friends, don’t nobody love me’, so it’s great to see a million people come and show up and support him.”
Papa John’s officials at the East Pass Road location told News 25 just before 5 o’clock they have sold around 330 pizzas.
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