Hannah Bartman feels for the families of those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.

Bartman, freshman in DGS, ordered boxes of shoelaces last week, symbolizing the Boston Athletic Association — blue laces reading “Pray for Boston” in yellow font. She will be selling them on the Quad next week and will be sending all the proceeds to the American Red Cross and the Boston Athletic Association. Bartman herself is a runner and said she personally wants to commemorate the victims in a different way. 

“The marathon is kind of something that celebrates life and what all your body can do,” Bartman said. “(But) to see somebody attack all those innocent people, I didn’t wanted to sit back and just let anything else happen.”

Bartman is hoping to run at the Boston Marathon next year with her shoelaces to remember the people who were affected by the bombings. 

“One of our goals was to be there (Boston) next year with the shoelaces and run with those on and remember those who can’t run,” she said.

Bartman is not the only community member reaching out to victims and their families. Interfaith in Action, a registered student organization, took it upon themselves to support those affected by the bombings as well.

Interfaith in Action hosted an event Monday night where participants packaged about 15,000 meals to be sent to the Eastern Illinois Foodbank in honor of the victims.

Ellie Brick, sophomore in LAS, said this event is a way to show how much the group cares about the nation.

“We think the most important platform (is) for people to come together for service,” Brick said. “Most people believe in service and believe in helping others.”

Brick said leaders of the group agreed that something needed to be done rather than just watching the incident develop.

“How can we help? That’s the most important thing. How can we give our emotions in support of people who are experiencing this tragedy? So that’s what we are doing,” she said.

After two hours of the service event, a vigil was held in front of the Alma Mater.

A representative from the Registered Student Organiztion Chinese Students and Scholars Association came to the event to commemorate the Chinese victim of the incident, Lu Lingzi, who was a graduate student at Boston University.

Vivian Zhen, CSSA representative and junior in FAA, said the news is heartbreaking.

“We feel a personal connection because we are all Chinese students who are studying in the U.S. and (are) so away from our parents,” Zhen said. “When this kind of tragedy happens, our parents can’t be (by) our sides.”

Participants of the vigil lit candles and stood in silence. Zhen gave a speech about Lingzi, saying she was brave and strong for coming to the U.S. to study and wishing her peace.

Carina can be reached at [email protected].