Purple benches coming to Chippewa Falls to remember 10-year-old Lily Peters

At Valley Vineyard Church, there’s a new purple bench to remember former member 10-year-old Lily Peters.

“For us — you lost a part of the community, you lost part of the family, there is a loss of innocence,” said the Rev. Michael Houle, senior pastor at Valley Vineyard Church.

The community of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, still mourns the loss of Lily, who police said was found dead back in the spring.

The 14-year-old suspect is scheduled back in court in a matter of weeks on a first-degree intentional homicide count.

“We don’t think it would happen in a rural community like us,” Houle said.

“As moms, is where it started,” said Samantha Haas, part of a team that fundraised for the benches. “I can’t imagine being in that situation, is what drove us to want to do something.”

Haas and Erica Bertrand helped make about “a thousand” bracelets in Lily’s favorite color, purple, to sell.

“It’s amazing that so many people who didn’t know this person, like us, wanted to help,” Bertrand said.

Their idea was to raise money for just one bench for the community, something that would be lasting to remember Lily.

The group of Boyd, Wisconsin, women ended up raising enough for four purple benches for the Chippewa Falls community.

Donations from the business community, including Rachel Meyer of Cravings Medford, helped with making more benches possible, organizers said.

Bracelet sales came from Western Wisconsin and from all over the country in recent months.

Three more benches will be set up across Chippewa Falls soon at locations that meant something “special” to Lily, organizers said.

Houle said the outpouring of support from near and far gives the community strength.

“The love and support, people across the nation praying for us, across the nation caring for us, it reminds us we are part of the human race,” Houle said.