Former Grayville City Commissioner Andi Ford is turning a hateful letter she received following her resignation into a fundraiser to help local children at Christmas.
Ford received an unsigned note last week containing a derogatory message celebrating her departure from the Grayville City Council. Ford resigned during the August 24 council meeting after serving approximately three and a half years, citing continued harassment affecting her reputation and business.
Rather than simply dismissing the letter, Ford decided to use it to raise money for Grayville’s Hometown Heroes Christmas program.
Ford and her husband Doug operate Creative Arc Design. She placed an image of the letter on T-shirts and began selling them, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the program. Grayville police officers and firefighters use Hometown Heroes funds to take underprivileged children Christmas shopping each year.
Ford said the response was immediate, with approximately $1,600 raised in less than 24 hours. She said some people have donated without purchasing a shirt.