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Meagan Romick is hoping that members of the East County community will open their hearts and wallets at a local fundraiser for the Nunn/Wilson orphans on Oct. 11, but the Oakley teen is quick to say that the event is more about camaraderie than cash.

I've felt so bad about this (accident) since it happened, and so have my friends, that we wanted to find a way to show them that the community cares; a way to show our support, said Romick, 18.

And support will come in the form of a daylong musical happening featuring the eclectic sounds of 10 local garage bands. The event will be held at the downtown city park, adjacent to the Civic Center, from 3 to 10 p.m. Admission is free and Straw Hat Pizza will be for sale.

Half of Straw Hat's profits will be donated to the Nunn and Wilson children. Raley's will be donating beverages, and the Oakley Recreation Department is providing lighting for the event.

It's been really fun planning this, said Romick. We're just hoping that people will come out, enjoy themselves and donate whatever they have in their pockets at the time.

Wilson family friend Kim Jones feels the same way. The Discovery Bay MOMS Club president and local resident has planned a holiday fundraiser for the Nunn and Wilson children to be held Nov. 15 at Excelsior Middle School.

The shop-till-you-drop, free-admission event will feature dozens of local vendors and booths, including Mary Kay Cosmetics, Cookie Lee Jewelry and Discovery Toys, to name a few. Jones said she had been searching for a larger venue in which to raise funds for the families when she came up with the idea for a holiday bazaar.

I kept thinking what could I do in a bigger way; how could we help on larger scale, said Jones. I brought the idea to the mom's club and everyone loved it. There will be lots of holiday stuff there, including a silent auction and raffle. People can come out and do their holiday shopping and benefit a good cause as well.

Oakley residents Erik and Tanya Nunn were killed along with neighbors Craig and Michele Wilson in a plane crash in June. The two couples left behind seven children.

For more information on the Oakley band event, call 925-752-3277.

For more information on the Discovery Bay fundraiser, call 925-240-7989.