Woman mails check to congressman in the amount of 'thoughts and prayers' after mass shooting

After hearing from politicians for years that they were sending "thoughts and prayers" in the aftermath of mass shootings a Michigan woman had had enough. On Thursday Fern Malila posted a photo of check she wrote out to U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, the Republican who represents her area, in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. less After hearing from politicians for years that they were sending "thoughts and prayers" in the aftermath of mass shootings a Michigan woman had had enough. On Thursday Fern Malila posted a photo of check she ... more Photo: Fern Malila / Facebook Photo: Fern Malila / Facebook Image 1 of / 36 Caption Close Woman mails check to congressman in the amount of 'thoughts and prayers' after mass shooting 1 / 36 Back to Gallery

After hearing from politicians for years that they were sending "thoughts and prayers" in the aftermath of mass shootings, a Michigan woman had had enough.

On Thursday, Fern Malila posted a photo of check she wrote to U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R), the congressman who represents her area, in the amount of "thoughts and prayers." The check was written and mailed in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that left 17 people dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

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On Wednesday just after the shooting Bergman's official Twitter account did express grief over the shooting.

"As a father and grandfather, the tragic news out of Florida is incomprehensible. Our hearts are with Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and all students, victims, families, and first responders in South Florida."

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Malila's Facebook post with a picture of her check and a note to Bergman went viral within hours, racking up over 51,000 shares and another 7,000 likes.

"This shouldn't be about me--nor do I purport to have a solution to what is a very complex societal issue with many, many stakeholders," Malila told Chron.com on Friday. "I do know that there is little I, personally, can do besides call, write, and vote."

"Congress can make changes, chooses not to, and therein lies my frustration," she said. "If this post can make even one single person think about what they can do to solve the problem, then it was worth it."

The response to her post was mostly positive as its reaches was widened once she made the posting public and able to be shared across Facebook.

In the growing comments section other expressed support and pledged to send the same note and check to their own elected officials. Many believe that words and sentiments are not enough to stem the tide of violent gun deaths and shootings across the country and would like action on the part of elected officials instead of mere "thoughts and prayers."

"I believe in the power of prayer, but Jesus did not ask us to pray for the hungry and naked, he asked us to feed and clothe them--to do something," Malila said. "I wish our Congress would heed that call."

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com.