Saturday, March 26 marks the five-year anniversary of the death of nine-year-old Alivia Watson. To honor Watson, Struthers City Council, along with the city's administration signed a proclamation declaring March 26 "Purple Day."

Watson was killed in a drunk driving accident in South Carolina on March 26, 2017. Struthers Mayor Cat Cercone Miller tells 21 News residents are encouraged to wear purple on Saturday to honor Watson, as purple was her favorite color.

In Watson's mother, Jolie Scanlon encourages folks to decorate the city purple to honor Watson. Just last week, Scanlon returned to the site of the crash in South Carolina and decorated it purple as well.

Scalon tells 21 News the support she's seeing for her daughter has been "overwhelming" and she's glad to see the community still remembers her.

"I'm overwhelmed to be honest with you. It's been five years tomorrow that she's been killed, but the community came together like they always do to honor my daughter," Scalon said.

In addition, Scanlon started an initiative for Watson after her death called "Livin' for Livi" in which the community is encouraged to do random acts of kindness for one another in honor of Watson and to spread more kindness in the world.

Scanlon tells us that in Christmas of 2021, $4,000 worth of toys were donated to Akron Children's Hospital thanks to the Livin' for Livi initiative.

Scanlon says these acts of kindess can be as simple as paying someone's bill at a restaurant, bringing food to your neighbors, donating school supplies, etc. She's also hosted bike runs and animal shelter drives in honor of her daughter.

Mayor Miller tells 21 News that she's unsure if "Purple Day" will become an annual event or not, but she'd love for it to become one.