When Algona police officer Kevin Cram was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty last Wednesday night, communities around the area mourned the loss together.

The next step was to try and be a part of the healing process. While this typically seems like an exercise in futility and most of us feel helpless in the wake of such a nightmare, sometimes a small gesture of support grows into something that offers its own silver lining of hope.

A few athletic booster clubs in the region started to share an idea before last Friday’s football games kicked off: donations of $10 per touchdown scored to Cram’s family. A simple, respectful gesture to honor the 33-year-old’s memory, especially given he was leaving behind a wife and three young children.

It maybe wouldn’t amount to much in the end, but for a man who made the ultimate sacrifice, schools in and around Algona figured it was the least they could do.

By Friday afternoon, word began to spread. Locally, Fort Dodge Senior High and St. Edmond joined Bishop Garrigan in Algona, Pocahontas Area and Manson Northwest Webster. Eagle Grove was on board. Then Humboldt. Clarion-Goldfield/Dows. West Bend-Mallard. Newell-Fonda. Almost every football program in north-central and northwest Iowa with a home game that night wanted to pitch in and join the touchdown fundraiser.

Businesses caught wind and got involved. Some committed $100 per score. Serving Our Servants, a Fort Dodge-based group of volunteers dedicated to supporting public servants and workers, took the lead here locally, as S.O.S. member T.J. Pingel of Shimkat Motors worked with Dodger head coach Nik Moser to track pledges and contributions.

Of course, the more points scored, the better it would be for the cause. The football gods were kind to the idea that night, as the Dodgers won, 45-27, and the Gaels’ final ended up 66-48. That’s 26 total touchdowns between the two games for those keeping track at home — a number rarely seen from one local Football Friday.

There are still many moving pieces and pledges rolling in as it stands here on Monday. What we do know is this: from the touchdown drive alone, FDSH is approaching the $20,000 mark. St. Edmond is at nearly $15,000. Area schools are racking up impressive numbers as well, with Garrigan at over $15,000; Eagle Grove clearing $10,000; Humboldt approaching $10,000; and C-G/D and WB-M getting closer to five figures as well.

Algona High School has its homecoming game this Friday night, which is bound to be both emotional and inspirational. The Algona Booster Club posted on Monday, “We will have donation buckets available at our concession stands and Club House Stores during this week’s Homecoming sports contests as well as donating the profits from Friday’s football tailgate (to the Cram family). On October 20, profits raised at concessions during the football games will be donated as well.”

Cram was born in Mason City. He graduated from Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne, another school from our area and near Algona. His wife, Lara, is a Mason City High School graduate.

In other words, the fundraising for the Cram family isn’t limited just to our region. For instance, Mitch Knippel — a St. Edmond graduate who currently lives in Cherokee — confirmed they have raised thousands from their community to donate to the Crams.

There’s no telling where this ends or how high the total goes. Rough estimates tell me we are going to be close to $40,000 from the Fort Dodge and St. Edmond efforts alone, with tens of thousands more pouring in from the rest of the area. This isn’t even including contributions reaching the memorial fund set up through Iowa State Bank in Algona.

Nothing will replace the loss of Kevin Cram in the Algona community. His family and friends are facing the aftermath of an unspeakable tragedy — one from which picking up the pieces will be incredibly difficult in the days, weeks and months to come.

The touchdown fundraiser wasn’t necessarily meant to reach the heights it has. Originally, it was a symbolic gesture of solidarity and respect from communities throughout our area. Leave it to small Iowa communities, though, to far exceed all expectations and send a crystal-clear message: Kevin Cram may have grown up, lived and served elsewhere, but he was still one of ours. And from all corners of this state, we always find ways to take care of our own.

Eric Pratt is Sports Editor at The Messenger. Contact him via email at sports@messengernews.net, or on Twitter @ByEricPratt