Young girl's dream helps refinery victims recover

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Morgan Seckinger is a WTOC Hometown Hero.

By Karla Redditte bio | email

RINCON, GA (WTOC) - In April of last year, Morgan Seckinger and her classmates at Ebenezer Elementary School got together to work on a special project to benefit the victims of the Imperial Sugar Refinery explosion.

"It's a wish from me so that everybody, all the burn victims, can get better soon," said Seckinger.

They designed charms called Morgan's Dixie Wish and she wanted the community's help to raise money for victims and their families- which included her own.

Her father Paul, was burned over 80 percent of his body.

"I told him that I loved him and that I want to go fishing," said Seckinger. "And I can't wait for him to get home so we can watch Sponge Bob together."

Today, her father and some of the other injured refinery workers are home.

"It's been kind of hectic but it's getting better," said Morgan's father Paul Seckinger.

And thanks to Morgan's dedication, four families are a little better financially.

Nearly $10,000 was raised through the sale of Morgan's Dixie Wish, double the amount of her original goal.

"My dad was hurt and I wanted to do something to help," said Seckinger. "And it made me feel good whenever I did that."

"It feels real good somebody out there cared enough to help us out," said burn victim Justin Purnell.

But the help is not over yet. Morgan says she still has more charms to sell and more families to help.

So it's her accomplishments thus far, and her continued dedication to making life just a bit easier for those still on the road to recovery that makes Morgan Seckinger a WTOC Hometown Hero.

If you'd like to buy a charm, call Ebenezer Elementary School for more information.