News of the devastating injury suffered by Cedar Falls sailor Taylor Morris earlier this month came as a shock to friends and family back home.

Now, they want to pitch in for the wounded warrior who lost both legs, his left arm from the bicep down and his right hand in an explosion in Afghanistan on May 3. Neal Price, 23, of Cedar Falls, who has been a close friend of Morris since they were 5, is among those trying to help.

"He was my first friend in kindergarten. I lived with his family over the last year. With almost 20 years of friendship between us, we’re essentially brothers," he said. "Obviously, the least we can do is take care of things back home for him.”

As Morris recovers in a hospital in Virginia, friends and family members in Iowa are staying busy raising money and raising awareness for their wounded warrior.

Morris, 23, of Cedar Falls, is an explosive ordinance disposal technician with the Navy. 

Neal and other friends and family have set up a PayPal account to raise money for Morris and his family. The link to that account is here.

"The donations will go toward the family's travel expenses, additional medical expenses, higher end prosthetics (not just the basics) and even odds and ends like the expenses to fit a car to allow him to drive," Morris's friend Tim Dodd said.

Besides the PayPal account, checks and letters can also be mailed to:

Danielle K Cell: Taylor Morris PO2
General Delivery
8901 Wisconsin Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20889-5600

Other efforts are in the works, such as a major fundraising event and working with Morris's aunt Cindy Johnson to set up a non-profit.

"So many people want to help out, it’s just kind of information overload," Price said.

Read more about Taylor Morris:

Injured Cedar Falls Soldier Taylor Morris Has Thousands of Fans

Family Website: Cedar Falls Soldier Lost Legs, Left Arm and Right Hand in Afghanistan