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Winter clothing drive to honor Center Grove woman killed in crash

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A Center Grove woman killed in a crash on Interstate 65 in Tippecanoe County almost six months ago is being honored for her generosity.

Those who knew Dr. Jill Buck said she was someone who always back to the community and now a winter clothing drive helping the homeless is being done in her memory.

“Jill actually had connected us with the historical society,” said Donald Trainor, Chief Medical Officer for Health Net. “She again was a great proponent of helping other people get access to care.”

Trainor said it’s a connection that would be possible had it not been for Buck. The optometrist worked for Health Net for several years before she died.

“With her passing it left a big whole in our heart as well as her families and all the friends that knew her,” said Trainor. “All of us have really looked for ways to memorialize her and remember her.”

Health Net is partnering with the Indiana Historical Society for a clothing drive to help more 3,000 homeless people in Marion County.

The goal of the drive is to collect 500 new or gently used hats, gloves, scarves and coats.

Karie Hon told 24-Hour News 8 by phone that this is something her friend would have wanted.

“Back in the summer, we were having lunch and discussing this event. I would bounce things off of her all the time and I was like, I really need a sponsor for this awesome event that’s going to be coming up on National Day of Service, Martin Luther King Day,” said Hon. “She was like, well, what about Health Net?”

Hon works for IHS. She said she knows her friend is looking down from up above with approval.

“Just like Dr. King he wanted people to have hope and he would always say, one of life’s most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others?” said Hon. “I would say to that is what Jill would ask herself every day. What could she do for others; whether it was her family, friends, or complete strangers or patients of hers. She was just full of hope. She wanted everybody to know that regardless of their situation or where they were in life to just have hope.”

People can drop off their donations at the Indiana Historical Society until Monday.

HIS is also offering free admission for special programming on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.