Family, friends and supporters of 10-year-old Charlie Thompson will hold a prayer service and candlelight vigil from 6 to 6:30 p.m. tonight, Wednesday, Oct. 30, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cazenovia, located at 27 Albany St.
The family’s pastor, Rev. Ethan Worthington, Cazenovia regional minister for Eastern Hills Bible Church in Manlius, will lead the service. Candles will be available at the church to light, and children are welcome to attend the service, Worthington said.
Thompson remains in critical but stable condition today at Golisano Children’s Hospital after falling down an 18-foot well last Friday while playing hide-and-seek at a Halloween party, according to the latest update on the website thompsonfamilyupdate.wordpress.com. Thompson, who sustained major internal injuries but only minor external injuries, is making slow but steady positive improvements and “continues to impress the doctors with his strength,” said the latest post.
The WordPress website will continue to be updated with information on Charlie’s condition, and the family is requesting no visitors, phone calls, texts or emails at this time, the website states.
The Thompson family has received a large outpouring of support from the local community, and anyone wishing to communicate with the family or find information about how to sign up to make food and donate money to them should go online to the website thompsonfamilyupdate.wordpress.com, Worthington said.
People also can leave cards or gifts that they’d like brought to Charlie in Worthington’s mailbox at 4228 Palmer Road, Manlius, Worthington said.
An account with Lotsa Helping Hands (lotsahelpinghands.com/looking-for-community) also has been created for the family. Anyone who would like to help by donating food or any other gifts, leave a comment with your name and email address so you can be added to the invitation list. As comments are approved, email addresses will not be made public.
For more support, people may also contact Worthington at [email protected] or speak with one of the Cazenovia school district counselors: Mary Horan, Burton Street Elementary at [email protected] or Jennifer Glasgow, middle school counselor 655-1315.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
