Mt. Kisco Fundraiser for Lauren Spierer

Frank Merante remembers Lauren Spierer from when they were both students at , whether it was sharing classes and or going on a foreign exchange trip to Japan.

"Lauren was my best friend growing up," he said. Merante has known Spierer since they met as 9th graders, after he moved to Edgemont. They both graduated from Edgemont in 2009.

Spierer, an Indiana University student, has been missing since her June 2011 disappearance. Her family has traveled to Bloomington, IN, since then, Merante explained. He even went to help with the search effort.

With his friend missing, Merante is helping to organize Shop for Spierer, a fundraising event to help the Spierer family pay for the costs they're incurring during the search for Lauren. It will be held today at Via Michelle in Mount Kisco (at 49 S. Moger Ave.), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Michelle Danielle, who owns the spa service business, will be donating 25 percent of the proceeds from each sale to the cause.

"Everybody wants some kind of closure for this family," Danielle said.

Merante knows Danielle through his mother, Geri Brewster, who owns the Mount Kisco-based .

To learn more about the event,