"I can feel the love in people I've never met before, wishing the Henslee family well wishes and support and love. It's just overwhelming," family friend and spokeswoman Wendy Boyd said.
Boyd greeted every person as they walked in to support the living victims of last week's crime. She represented the Henslee family while they weren't around.
"With two small children, it's going to be a struggle for a little while," Boyd said.
It is because of that, the Hartford Community Center put on the event, asking only for donations to enjoy a spaghetti dinner. The center also hosted a silent auction.
There also was a bake sale with no price tags. Volunteers only asked people to give what they could.
The community center expected about 1,000 people, but about 2,100 people attended. Many were from across the community, but some were from neighboring towns and even a few were from out of state.
With the pain of the incident still fresh and many questions regarding the slaying still unanswered, Boyd says healing from this tragedy is still a long road ahead.
"We have a long way to go, because we have plans, and we have goals," Boyd says.
Boyd says the family hopes to change the way Michigan responds to reports of missing people by making search dogs available sooner.
She is also hoping, Beebe, the man arrested in the crime, speaks up with the truth.
"Tell the truth, get it over with and take what's coming to you," Boyd said.
Most of all, Boyd says, what she wants to see is justice.
"Our lives aren't going to be normal for a long time, until I see justice done for Amy," Boyd said.
The goal of the Community Center was to raise $10,000. Officials with the Community Center say they aren't going to release what the final total was, but says the event did "very, very well."
To view a map of the area, click here.
