The Holts Summit community gathered together Saturday for a fundraiser to support the families of three teenage girls who were killed in a car accident on August 1.
The fundraiser featured a silent auction, a raffle, face painting, vendors and cook-out items to raise money to relieve some of the families' financial stress, Jill Barnhart- who coordinated the fundraiser said. Barnhart had two weeks to plan the fundraiser and within that time received donations from individuals and businesses throughout the community including the Holts Summit Better Business Association, Family Pawn and Mosers. Mid-America bank also donated $100 from its "jeans day" collection and Bath & Body Works in Jefferson City donated two baskets worth $275 for the raffle, Barnhart said.
"It's been overwhelming," Barnhart added. "I can't imagine what we'd have if I had a month to plan this."
In the days leading up to the fundraiser, Barnhart had received more than $1,000 in donations from the community. On Tuesday a dinner was held at the HEART of Nashville restaurant in New Bloomfield where additional donations were raised for the families. The restaurant donated 10 percent of its Tuesday night sales to the fundraising pool, Barnhart said.
"It's awesome to know these businesses are donating because the families were so involved with the community," Barnhart said.
Members of the girls' families were also in attendance at the fundraiser. Several of the family members got tattoos in honor of two of the three girls. David Fowler, Meggan's father, got a tattoo of a rose with Meggan's name above it several days ago- his son Austin and both Zeph and Matt McDaniel went to The Ink Sling Studio in Jefferson City Friday night to get tattoos in their sisters' memories.
"You can't put it into words," David Fowler said. "Our community is our family and it's amazing. Meggan would have been proud."
Barnhart expected more than 600 people to attend the fundraiser and raise more than $2,000 from the event alone. During Meggan and Miriah's funeral service more than 1,500 family and community members attended the service, Zeph McDaniel said.
"I'm blown away. I didn't believe the number of people they touched," he added. "It gave me a whole new love for this community. It doesn't hurt as bad now because have people here for us."