Volunteers Pouring in For Smithfield Barn Raising

Let the 'Redneck Barn Raising' begin. Saturday, September 26th the community will come together to pick up the pieces in Smithfield after last years tornado leveled homes and killed four people.

Derrick Baker is the man behind the effort to rebuild and says help is pouring in. Several local companies have donated the lumber needed and volunteers are lining up to pitch in.

Baker says the idea came to him after he was called to give a roof quote. "When I got to the address the hair on my neck stood up and a lump in my throat grew. I realized I was being asked to rebuild the site where the tornado touched down."

Baker says after taking with Don Degroat, who lost his daughter and granddaughter in the twister, he came up with the idea for a 'barn raising. "He needed some things and didn't really have a lot of money. After a few minutes of talking with him and seeing his tears as he talked about losing his daughter and granddaughter was enough to know I didn't need his money," says Baker.

Want to volunteer? Contact Carly Baker at 315-750-6070 or visit the Rebuilding After the Smithfield Tornado Facebook page.

Baker is also looking for an artist to create a memorial for those who died in the tornado. It will hang in the new barn being built.

Can't help build? You can contribute to the GoFundMe campaign.

The EF2 tornado with wind speeds of 100-125 mph, touched down in Smithfield last year, killing 35-year-old Kimberly M. Hillard, her 4-month-old daughter Paris Newman, 70-year-old Virginia Warner and 53-year-old Arnie D. Allen.

The community came out for a benefit last summer for the 13 families affected and Baker is hoping for the same turnout this time.

Volunteers and Donations Pouring In For Smithfield ‘Redneck Barn Raising’

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