More than a week after deadly crash Brunswick community rallies to help victims' families

BRUNSWICK, Ohio - It was a week ago Sunday since four Brunswick teens were killed in a car crash, but the community is still showing their support for the families.

Panini's Bar and Grill was filled with customers Monday afternoon looking to help the families.

"For everybody to be volunteering and helping out and seeing half the community come and help us out is huge," said Panini's employee Hayley Presten.

Restaurant owners were moved to give back; taking the day's earnings and giving the money to the families of the four students killed when their car crashed in Columbia Township a week ago.

The hungry lunch crowd turned out in full force for the free meal and drink in exchange for their donations.

"The city of Brunswick, the people in this community, they pretty much take care of us. They put money on for famil,y they keep our place open and we want to give back to the community," said Panini's manager Mike Terlizzi. He said they were also giving away bagged lunches for donations in front of Brunswick High School for the victim's families.

A scholarship fund will support a worthy student's college education.

Presten said she was shocked by the generosity as customer after customer came in to support the effort.

"It's like a huge family and I've never seen that before here. It's turned into a really great place to be," she said.

The deaths of Jeffrey Chaya, Blake Bartchak, Kevin Fox, and Lexi Poerner shattered the Brunswick community. In response, it has come together to help out. The fundraiser goes until midnight Monday. Panini's hopes to raise $25,000 for the families.