WEST POINT — On June 29 of this year, Cassandra Hutchinson had a stroke that left her in an unresponsive state.

Moving from WellStar’s West Georgia Medical Center location in LaGrange to WellStar Kennestone Hosptial in Marietta, Ga. and back, the medical bills related to the 49-year-old Hutchinson’s treatment have mounted, leaving the group of family and friends working to keep Hutchinson’s affairs in order facing steep medical charges.

To help offset these expenses, Hutchinson’s cousin Shirley Bailey has banded together members of the community who know and care about Hutchinson for what she is calling a “Love Fundraiser.”

On Sunday, Aug. 5, barbecue chicken plates will be sold at the home of Margie McCullough, Hutchinson’s mother, located at 1300 E. 10th Street in West Point. For $10, those who want to support Hutchinson can get plates including leg quarters, baked beans, coleslaw, bread and a drink from 12 p.m. until they’re gone. 

“In West Point, we are a close-knit family,” Bailey said. “If someone is going through something, we are going through it with them. We always help each other. That’s the main reason we want to help, because of how we love and how we were reared up in this area. We pour out our hearts for each other.”

That love shows, as the event is happening because of the communities love for Hutchinson. Bailey describes her as “a character and a jokester” who always keeps people laughing. Also according to Bailey, Hutchinson loves to cook and constantly invites people over for fish dinners.

It was because of her hospitality and charisma that Bailey and others who know her are so eager to raise funds.

“We just thought we needed to do something,” Bailey said. “It’s a situation that, if it was me or another one of our family, she would be doing the same thing. She would be on the grill barbecuing up plates saying, ‘Come on, let’s all chip in and help.’”