LaQuanta Riley, 19, Montgomery AL, 12/7/04

[KellyJolkowski]

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta

December 7th, 2007 will mark 4 years since the family of then 19 year-old LaQuanta Riley saw or spoke to her.

LaQuanta disappeared from Montgomery, AL, and was last seen by relatives at approximately 11:30pm getting into a green car, either a Taurus or Caprice. She was wearing a yellow and green Ecko shirt, stone-washed blue jeans, and green and yellow Reebok tennis shoes. There are no leads in LaQuanta's case and the family clings to the hope that someday she will be found.

To honor and remember LaQuanta, her family will be hosting a vigil of hope for LaQuanta. The vigil will be held on 5:30pm on December 7th, 2007 at the Hayneville Road Community Center, 3315 Hayneville Road, Montgomery, AL 36108. The public is invited to attend.

At the vigil of hope, LaQuanta's family and friends will place candles, one per week since LaQuanta's disappearance, for a total of 208 candles. Her family is a simple one, and LaQuanta's case never generated much interest with the media or the public, so Project Jason is asking for your help.

To show this grieving, but yet hopeful family that we do care, we are asking for you to help the family reach their goal of acquiring 208 candles for use at the vigil, with at least one from each state in the US.

Would you consider purchasing a candle to send to the family? If everyone helps, it should be easy to reach our goal.

If you'd like to help, here's all you'd need to do:

Purchase a candle which is free-standing and will not allow wax to drip down the sides or out the bottom while lit.

Attach a message of hope for LaQuanta's family and note your state on the card.

Mail your candle, allowing enough shipping time to reach Montgomery AL by December 3rd, 2007.

Indicate on the note if you prefer to remain anonymous.

If you'd like to purchase a themed candle, LaQuanta's favorite color is blue, she likes music, cooking, and has a great love of the Bible and God.

Mail your candle to:

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta
244 Cornell Rd.
Montgomery AL 36109

Updates on the candle campaign will be published here, along with any media stories about LaQuanta:
http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=450

LaQuanta also has a website, which you can find at http://www.findlaquanta.com/ Please sign the guestbook as another way to show your support, and forward this message so that we can meet our Candles of Hope for LaQuanta campaign goal.

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

[KellyJolkowski]

Name: LaQuanta Nachelle Riley

Classification: Endangered Missing Adult
Alias / Nickname: Quanna
Date of Birth: 1984-02-26
Date Missing: 2003-12-07
From City/State: Montgomery, AL
Missing From (Country): USA
Age at Time of Disappearance: 19
Gender: Female
Race: Black
Height: 68 inches
Weight: 200 pounds
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Medium

Identifying Characteristics: Scar on nose, tattoo of "RIP Mesha" on one bicep and her name "LaQuanta" on the other, pierced tongue with silver barbell, pierced ears.

Clothing: Yellow and green "Ecko" shirt, blue jeans, green and yellow "Reebok" athletic shoes.
Jewelry: Silver chain bracelet.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. LaQuanta was last seen at approximately 11:30pm at her residence in the vincinity of the 1500 block of Hill St. She left the residence in a dark green, four door, vehicle with an unknown number of individuals.

Investigative Agency: Montgomery Police Department
Phone: (334) 241-2350
Investigative Case #: 03-031950

[KellyJolkowski]

I've only heard from 2 people about this. That doesn't mean that no one else is going to do it. I sure hope we will have a good response, as I encouraged the family to do it, trusting that surely we could find 208 kind people in the US.

I have to wonder if this was for Natalee Holloway, also from AL, if this thread would be filled with responses.

Thanks to those who already have a candle purchase on their shopping list!

Kelly

[KellyJolkowski]

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta is a campaign to find 208 different people from all over the country to mail one candle to the family in time for their prayer vigil on December 7th. This prayer vigil marks 4 years since LaQuanta Riley disappeared from her home in Montgomery, AL. 208 candles will give the family one per week since they last saw their LaQuanta.

To my knowledge, we only have about 12 people participating, so we still need 196 more.

Jar candles are the best choice and you can get one for less than $5. Check your dollar stores. Get your co-workers to buy one too, and then pitch in on mailing the candles together in one box.

Post my blog entry about the campaign on community bulletin boards online and email it to your friends. There are many ways you can help this family feel like they haven't been forgotten, and neither has LaQuanta.

Thank you!

I sent a candle. I hope that more people do it. IMO, too often, minorities just don't get as much press coverage when something happens. Thinking of LaQuanta and her family.

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by whirlingbirdie [*]I sent a candle. I hope that more people do it. IMO, too often, minorities just don't get as much press coverage when something happens. Thinking of LaQuanta and her family. [/*]

God bless you for answering my call!!

That is a good idea too, that you told me about: order one online and have it shipped to the address. Then you don't have to ship it yourself.

Thanks for putting out a MySpace bulletin, too....another good idea.

Many blessings,
Kelly

Not a problem at all! Sometimes it might be easier for people to do it that way; then they don't have to worry about going to the post office and packaging it up. Although I do like your co-worker idea as well. With the holiday season coming, imo, things like this are great ideas to give back.

[KellyJolkowski]

So far, the family has only received two candles out of a goal of 208. There are two weeks left to go until the vigil, and less than two weeks shipping time. Please consider helping.

Kelly, do you know if they recieved mine?

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by whirlingbirdie [*]Kelly, do you know if they recieved mine? [/*]

I can sure ask. How will they know it is yours?

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by AnnieBean [*]

I'm sending a couple!!! [/*]

Thank you, AnnieBean, and God bless!

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by DeniseVance [*]Did anyone find a source where we can buy a few online and have them directly shipped? All the ones I am finding are decorative or scented rather than a more plain votive type in a jar or glass.

Thanks! [/*]

I have had a few people order from this company: http://www.flamelesscandles.net/?gcl...FRSpIgodmRwXFg

Here are some:
http://www.candle4less.com/Jar-Candles.st.347.htm

I would definetely verify shipping time at this point.

Thank you!

I used www.candles4less.com. I got a blue candle with a cross on it.

Kelly, it says from Erin & Family in NJ. I just hope they recieved it in time. I hope that more people do this as well!!

[KellyJolkowski]

15 people??? Oh my gosh, that makes me so happy, Denise. Thank you.

Erin, I am going to email the family contact this evening and ask for an update. I will ask about yours and let you know.

Since it is late there, I may not get an answer until tomorrow though.

Many blessings,
Kelly

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by DeniseVance [*]Finding 15 people wanting to pitch in on a $4 or less gift to this cause is so easy. If 20 people found 10 friends and family then this deal is done and they can have the vigil they hope for! [/*]

Good and positive way to think about it. I just heard about an order from someone on another site. YAY!

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by whirlingbirdie [*]I used www.candles4less.com. I got a blue candle with a cross on it.

Kelly, it says from Erin & Family in NJ. I just hope they recieved it in time. I hope that more people do this as well!! [/*]

Yes, they did get your candle!

I didn't get a number count, so I will have to ask for that.

Thank you!

[KellyJolkowski]

Originally posted by DeniseVance [*]I now have 25 names and 25 candles! I am trying to figure out how to attach the different states and names to them!

If anyone else is amassing friends and famlies to do this and you figured a great way to attach names and locations to each candle please let me know your secret! I would love to have these shipped out tomorrow. Thanks! [/*]

You are GOOD!

Some of the folks at my work just used a sticky note and taped it to the bottom of the candle.

[KellyJolkowski]

Here's an update on the candle campaign as of yesterday. Since some of these senders may wish to be anonymous, I will only name states.

Received: (This includes all mentioned prior)

2 from NY
2 from NY
1 from PA
1 from FL (family member of a missing person donated)
1 from GA
1 from NJ
3 from NM plus 260 tea lights
1 set of 12 flameless tea lights from MO (family member of a missing person donated)
1 set of 6 flameless tea lights from NY (family member of a missing person donated)

[KellyJolkowski]

Full Update from today:

2 from NY
2 from NY
1 from PA
1 from FL (family member of a missing person donated)
1 from GA
1 from NJ
3 from NM plus 260 tea lights
1 set of 12 flameless tea lights from MO (family member of a missing person donated)
1 set of 6 flameless tea lights from NY (family member of a missing person donated)
1 from CA (A MySpace friend)
1 from IL (A family member of a missing person)
1 from PA (A candle company)
1 from TN (A family member whose missing loved one was murdered)
1 from TN

[KellyJolkowski]

1 from AL
1 from AR
1 from AZ
1 from CA
1 from CA (A MySpace friend)
1 from CO
1 from FL
1 from FL (family member of a missing person donated)
1 from GA
1 from GA
1 from IA
1 from ID
1 from ID
1 from IL (A family member of a missing person)
1 from KS
1 from MA
1 from MD
1 from MI
1 set of 12 flameless tea lights from MO (family member of a missing person donated)
1 from MO
1 from MO (From 2 different family members with a missing loved one)
1 from MS
1 from NC
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE
1 from NE (100 tealights)
1 from NE
1 from NE (from a family member of a missing person)
1 from NJ
1 from NM
3 from NM plus 260 tea lights
1 from NV
1 from NY
1 set of 6 flameless tea lights from NY (family member of a missing person donated)
2 from NY
2 from NY
1 from PA
1 from PA (A candle company)
1 from PA
1 from SC
1 from TN (A family member whose missing loved one was murdered)
1 from TN
1 from TN
1 from TX
1 from UT
1 from WA
1 from WI

This update is not a final one and is from candles received by Thursday. 29 states were represented and 56 candles received. If you count tealights individually, the goal of 208 candles was surpassed. As the vigil was last night, I will give the family some time to let us know the final update and how the vigil went. Thank you to all who participated. May God bless you and yours abundantly.

[KellyJolkowski]

From the Family:

“I would like to thank each and every person who sent a candle or said a prayer during our prayer vigil. It was because of your thoughtfulness that we were able to accomplish the prayer vigil.

It gives us hope and strength to know that so many people care about LaQuanta and are helping to bring her home. I would like to give a special thanks to Kelly Jolkowski and all those at Project Jason, without whose help none of this would have been possible. I will continue to pray for all those who are missing as I pray for my daughter and all those who are praying. I ask that you continue to pray, because I am convinced that God does and will answer prayers.

Forever grateful,
Pam”

[Mandysmom]

I am ashamed to say I didn't read this until today. I'm from Al and would have and should have sent a candle and gotten more from friends and other family members.

Kelly, you are an angel.