Donations sought for Moses Lake family

MOSES LAKE — Donations are being sought for a Moses Lake family grieving the loss of a wife and mother.

In the evening hours of April 1 the Helfensteins, who reside in Moses Lake, were traveling east in a 2005 Mitsubishi Galant on Interstate 90 near North Bend when adverse road conditions and speed caused their vehicle to hit a guardrail. The Galant went down a 20-foot embankment and came to a rest. Alyssa Helfenstein, 27, who was pregnant at the time, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle. The crash claimed the life of Helfenstein and her unborn child. Helfenstein's husband and two other young children were transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Snoqualmie Police Department Officers Rick Cary and Scott Bruton were the first officers at the scene of the collision and have set up a GoFundMe page to benefit the Helfenstein family. To donate visit www.gofundme.com/alyssa-helfenstein-memorial-fund.

“As fathers ourselves, we were deeply affected emotionally that evening,” reads a statement on the GoFundMe page. “On behalf of the Snoqualmie Police Association, we are asking for donations to help the Helfenstein family during this extremely difficult time in their lives.”

Another GoFundMe page was started to benefit the Helfensteins and has raised over $10,000 since its inception. The page was established by Alyssa Helfenstein's sister-in-law, who is trying to help her brother and his family. To donate to the campaign visit www.gofundme.com/help-a-family-in-a-time-of-grieving.

"I was not going to do this but with all the medical cost from Harbor View, the unexpected funeral, needing a new car for the babies to get around in, and help with rent while unable to go back to work for a little while anything would help,” reads a statement on the GoFundMe page.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.