The Cannizzaros have been through more than any one family should ever have to endure.

Michael, Drako and Chastity—all students in Dearborn Public Schools—lost their mother, Nikki, to cancer just before Christmas. And on Jan. 20, their father, Ray, passed away from a pulmonary embolism.

The children are currently staying with their grandmother.

In December, Dearborn Patch published a request for gifts of money, food and presents to help the family through a rough holiday season. The outpouring of support, from strangers and friends alike, was tremendous.

Now, friends of the Cannizzaro family are again asking for the community's help for three Dearborn children who are now without parents.

Alysia Schueler, a Dearborn parent and Relay For Life liaison whose own children go to school with the Cannizzaros, has asked that those looking to help send or drop off donations to Snow Elementary School, located at 2000 Culver Street in Dearborn.

Helpful donations include:

• Checks (made out to the children's grandmother, Shirley Sironen)
• Gift cards to local stores or restaurants
• Meals

Items can be dropped in the school's main office, or mailed to:

Snow School, c/o Alysia Schuler PTA
2000 Culver Street
Dearborn, MI, 48124

A visitation and funeral service for Ray Cannizzaro will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Querfeld Funeral Home in Dearborn.

For questions on donations, contact Schuler by phone at 313-408-1264, or via email at alysiarelay@yahoo.com.