GAINESVILLE, Ga. — The One in Five Foundation for Kids, a national nonprofit, is joining the ongoing search for Maria Gomez Perez, a missing 12-year-old from Gainesville who was last seen at her home in late May. The group is assembling a team of volunteers from its STOPNOW school community patrol team in its Dallas, San Antonio and Bell County chapters, who will aid in a grid search.
Over a dozen volunteers are already in the rotation and will also distribute fliers with Gomez Perez's picture throughout Bell, McClennan and Bexar counties.
"Now is not the time to end the search for this young lady," STOPNOW Patrol teams director James Earle said in a press release. "It is time to bring her home."
In the weeks since Gomez Perez's disappearance, police have followed leads in several states, including Texas, but still have no suspects and do not know where she is.
Gomez Perez is 5'3" and weighs 100-110 pounds. She has brown eyes and long black hair.
The Hall County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information regarding Maria's whereabouts to call its Special Investigations Unit at 770-503-3232 or email intelrequest@hallcounty.org. People may also report tips by dialing 911 or the foundation toll free 24 hour crisis reporting number at 254 206 9089. Those wishing to join the foundation organized search teams may contact the foundation. There is now a $50,000 reward for anyone who helps locate Maria.
The One in Five Foundation for Kids, formerly The Uvalde Foundation for Kids, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to ending school violence. It was formed after the Robb Elementary School shooting, and it is headquartered in Dallas.