Whether through donations, volunteering to help at fund-raising events or mere presence, members of the Baldwin City and Baker University communities have been showing support to Mass Media and Communication Department Assistant Sherrie Wood.

An estimated 600 people attended the soup and chili benefit supper held at the Baldwin City Elementary Intermediate Center School Wednesday. Though the food ran out prior to the event’s scheduled 8 p.m. ending time, people continued to make donations. A coordinator of the event, Alice Gurley said the event was far larger than many people had expected.

“I’ve helped with about 10 fund-raisers in Baldwin, and this is the biggest,” Gurley said. “It’s just because of Sherrie and her family.”

Among the Baker students who attended were members of greek houses, several of which canceled their regularly scheduled meals at their houses so the members could attend the event. Junior Abby Burnett said she was happy when Phi Mu did not serve a meal.

“I was excited, and I was going to come anyway,” Burnett said. “I felt we should help her out with medical expenses. It was a great idea to come and participate.”

Sherrie Wood’s son Joshua Wood said he was overwhelmed by the amount of support shown at the benefit supper.

“It’s been incredible to know that this many people in this community cares and loves my family as much as I do,” Wood said. “It just shows how close this community really is. Even with having a university here, it shows how united this community is.”

At 8 p.m. today in Rice Auditorium, the Benefit Concert for Sherrie Wood will feature several bands including Censura and other Baker student musicians. Admission to the event is $5 per person. One of the bands participating is Faded, which includes Joshua Wood. Joshua Wood said he hopes Baker students will attend the event, which he said will have “an electrical charge of emotion.”

“It’s going to be tough,” Wood said. “The songs we’re playing have a huge lyrical value to what has been going on. This is what I want to be doing and what Mom would want me to be doing.”

Donations for each event have gone to the Sherrie Wood Fund in order to help her and her family with medical expenses. Sherrie Wood was diagnosed with ocular melanoma that metastasized to her liver.