CLEVELAND, TN (WRCB) -- Life after the April 27th tornadoes has gotten back to normal for some, but there are still countless families who haven't had the strength to even start rebuilding. For one Cleveland family, that strength finally came Saturday from a group of strangers.
Taking the first step toward moving on from that deadly day, is a tough one, even 10 months later. Saturday a community banded together to give one family the boost it desperately needed.
"It took my daughter's life," Bill Smith said.
Bill Smith relives the scene everyday in his mind.
"It seemed like this whole thing jerked my spirit out. I've not had the will," Smith said.
Saturday he got the inspiration he needs as the group Cleveland Cleanup lent a hand to get the constant reminder of what happened off his property.
"I cannot begin to understand what he's been through. We were all effected by the tornadoes on April 27th, but some of us were effected more heavily than others," Cleveland Cleanup organizer Laura Mountain said.
Organizer Laura Mountain sent out the call asking for help from anyone willing to give it.
"It's been 10 months for us and people may have forgotten about it but it's like yesterday to these families and they've still got a lot of cleanup to do," volunteer Leann Hayes said.
"We are all able to do this so if you have to bear through a little cold or a little wind, that's nothing compared to what these people have been through," Mountain said.
They took that first step forward with the Smith family.
"I've not had the will to get out here. It's been horrible and these people are great. They're heaven sent," Smith said.
This is the second family Cleveland Cleanup has helped. They plan to work at a different home every Saturday. Organizers say they'll continue doing it as long as it takes, even if that's years. The more volunteers they have, the sooner these storm victims can get past the cleanup process.
To volunteer with Cleveland Cleanup, email Laura Mountain clevelandcleanup@gmail.com
You can pick up the wood cut down in the Smith family's yard anytime on Gentry Lane in Cleveland.
