The “We Care” fund started by the employees and customers of Otto’s in memory of Christine Billmyer might be expanded to DeKalb-area businesses.

Bob Daniels, owner of Otto’s, 118 E. Lincoln Hwy., said most donations have come from customers at the bar. He said the fund currently is about $1,500.

“We are planning to expand the project by sending a mass-mailing to area businesses. We’ll explain what the fund is and ask for suggestions,” Daniels said.

The “We Care” fund was started after Billmyer was killed in a car accident Oct. 4. Billmyer, who worked at Otto’s, was a passenger in a car driven by Ann Smith. Smith’s car was struck by a car, driven by Demetrius Glenn, at the corner of Lincoln and Annie Glidden Road.

DeKalb Police arrested Glenn and charged him with reckless homicide, driving under the influence, driving on revocation and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Daniels said money from the fund at the American National Bank of DeKalb, 810 W. Lincoln Hwy., has been used to pay some of Smith’s medical bills. Other donations have been made to local charities and to the World Hunger Project, which was an interest of Billmyer’s.

“Miller Brewing has started a TIPS program, which teaches bartenders and waitresses how to deal with people who are drunk. Miller has donated kegs of beer to the bar, and when someone orders a Miller draft the money goes directly into the fund,” Daniels said.

A possible use for the fund is a courtesy car service to be used by patrons of any DeKalb bar who were unable to drive home, Daniels said. He said he has looked into the alcohol awareness programs in the DeKalb area to see if any need to be started.

Joe Pasteris, an adviser to the Students Against Drunk Driving chapter at DeKalb High School, said the chapter was started in Sring 1986. “We have about 40 to 50 members, mostly younger students. I think it helps to educate students—hopefully they’ll make the right decisions about drinking and driving as adults.”