Thousands raised for Johnson family

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Donations, prayers, and well-wishes for the Johnson family are piling up, since they lost everything in Tuesday's deadly house explosion.

Every day, our newsroom is getting word of another fundraiser for the Johnsons. Thousands of dollars have been raised over the last four days. Friends of the family say it's "overwhelming."

From their small and close-knit hometown of Wilson, to the city streets of Buffalo, and beyond. Hearts are open, and support is pouring in for the Johnson family.

Wilson Middle School teacher Brian Baker said, "This community just steps up, and they're amazing. It's absolutely amazing, the way people come forward."

>> You can follow the Johnsons' progress as they heal on Judy's blog, which is updated several times each day

Friday's guitar raffle and donation tent, at the Theory of a Deadman concert in Lockport raised $2,100 for the Johnsons. Saturday, Amylee's Hair Salon in Wilson collected just over a thousand dollars.

Coffee Culture in Buffalo's Elmwood Village has brought in thousands. Every penny it makes in sales through Sunday night will go right to the Johnsons.

Chris Weinert said, "I was pretty impressed with it. I always thought, if I opened a business, I'd want to do something like that. And here, they're doing it. So I figure I'll support them doing that. I got a little more than I normally would."

Jennifer Kahley added, "It's just touching that people actually care, and that a business would do something like this for a family."

But perhaps more valuable than the money, is the emotional support the family is getting. According to a blog for Judy Johnson, nurses at ECMC say they've never seen so many visitors on the floor.

"40 to 50 kids and families being up at the hospital every day, just sitting in rooms for three, four hours at a time so they can talk to each other, and be with each other. That's special," Baker said.

Katie Johnson's friend, Kaitlyn Bowers, said, "The first couple days were the hardest. But now, getting away from what happened and more into what we can do to help, it's really making everything that much better."

On that same blog, we read Judy Johnson was released from the hospital on Saturday, and that Katie Johnson's doctors are optimistic she will not need any more surgeries for the severe burns she suffered in the house explosion.