FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. (WHNT) — Small towns are the cornerstones of community. When one family is in need, it is all hands on deck.
“Fayetteville, Lincoln County, we’re, I mean, it’s kind of what we’re known for,” Sagbhi Jewelers Assistant Manager Kelsey Blaisdell said. “Bad things happen, and we just pull together and try to do what we can to help.”
The Smith family faces an uphill battle. When driving home from 8-year-old Brynlee’s dance recital, the family was involved in a multi-vehicle deadly car crash. Lane Smith, the father, died in the crash. Mother Bayleigh, Brynlee and 22-month-old Sawyer are all fighting for their lives in the hospital.
“It’s senseless when things like this happen,” Blaisdell said. “And I think the only way people do get through it is through the support of others and being loved on by others.”
The community wasted no time doing exactly that.
Sagbhi Jewelers rallied up local businesses just hours after the crash, asking for donations to put inside a raffle basket to raise money for the Smith family. What started as a small effort grew faster than the store could imagine.
“We planned on doing one basket,” Sagbhi Jewelers Assistant Manager Jessica Ables said. “At this point, it seems we’re going to be doing multiple baskets and multiple giveaways because we have been absolutely overrun with items and just an outpouring of generosity from the community.”
The two managers said local businesses have been constantly dropping off donations at the shop, ranging from a Louis Vuitton bag, a certificate for a pump shotgun, a diamond necklace, gift certificates and even more.
They go on to say that businesses were eager to jump into help, learning about the raffles on social media, and brought items on their own accord.
“I would say a majority of these we didn’t even have to ask for a donation,” Blaisdell said. “It was just, ‘hey, we saw this, what can we do to help?”
The support doesn’t end there. The Bank of Lincoln County opened a donation account for the Smith family, something representatives say is crucial due to fraudulent activity on online donation platforms.
“We’ve already seen someone of the community set up a Venmo for the right reason, and then it was immediately copied with a few different characters right after it to be fraudulent,” Bank Vice President Ley Jean said. “So this is the most secure way to make sure the money gets to the family.”
The efforts continue stretching across the city with Brynlee’s dance studio, D-Force Dance Company, organizing donated baskets of supplies for the family members in the hospital. The owners took one of those baskets to Nashville today and weren’t available for an interview.
All the businesses circled back to the same point: in a small town, this outpouring of support is just what you do.
Sagbhi Jewelers is still ironing out the details of their raffle basket due to the significant growth they experienced in the last few days. People may reach out via phone or go to the store for any questions on getting involved or participating.
The Bank of Lincoln County is accepting fund donations at any of its three locations. For those outside the area, a check can be mailed to P.O. Box 778, Fayetteville, Tennessee 37334. Representatives said to make the check out to the Bank of Lincoln County and put the Smith family on the memo line.
The post Small town, huge support: Fayetteville rallies to support family impacted by deadly crash appeared first on WHNT.
