Today is the 9th birthday of Elizabeth Collins, one of the two northeast Iowa girls who vanished while riding their bikes more than two weeks ago.
Poyner Elementary School in Evansdale is holding an event today called “Cupcakes of Hope.”
Poyner principal Trista Manternach says it’s their way of thanking area businesses who helped out during the search for the young cousins.
One-thousand cupcakes were donated that are being decorated and given to the more than 90 merchants who aided in the search through donating goods and services, everything from lunches to water bottles.
The event is being held at Prince of Peace Church in Evansdale and Manternach says they could still use some helping hands.
People are still needed to help decorate cupcakes, make cards and then deliver all the cupcakes to businesses in the Evansdale area and as far away as Iowa City.
The girls disappeared the afternoon of July 13th. Their bikes were found near a lake which was later drained, but no sign of them was found. Hundreds of volunteers helped in the search around the Waterloo suburb.
Investigators are now treating the case as an abduction.
By Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls