HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Tuesday marks a night of food, music, and community all to support local businesses and parks recovering from the December tornado through the Hendersonville Rising concert.
Tickets can be purchased here.
A month following the tornadoes, a majority of city businesses need a lot of help so the goal is provide more financial relief. The city continues to rebuild after more than 130 businesses were impacted.
The Hendersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Henderonsville Hometown Jam are putting on the concert. Twenty local musicians will be on hand, as well as NewsChannel5's very own Meteorologist and proud Hendersonville native Bree Smith who is emceeing.
The concert is at Premier Center on Volunteer Drive. Attendees will be able to get in at 5:30 p.m. and the music starts at 6:30 p.m.
City officials say 137 businesses took on damage from the tornado. 74 of those were severely hit. There's been more than 300 employees out of work because of it.
A number of city parks were also destroyed, putting a halt to families continuing their regular routines.
Organizing a concert is nothing new for the city that has seen an array of artists through it's doors and parks over the years. Taylor Swift, Johnny Cash, Barbara Mandrell all have a special tie to the area.
Mayor Jamie Clary said they're grateful for the musicians continuing that tradition to help with this concert. He said he's confident that families will be back in the parks this spring for things like practices and games.
Here’s a beautiful story of how one mother turned her grief journey into a gathering of gratitude… and organ donation awareness.
Robb Coles highlights a special event organized by Cari Hollis – whose 26-year old son Austin died two years ago. Austin agreed to be an organ donor – and that single gesture saved multiple lives.
Cari reached out to as many recipients she could find – several of whom traveled to Nashville for an emotional celebration in Austin’s honor. One woman – whose life was saved by receiving Austin’s lungs – put it simply: “He’s my angel”.
- Rhori Johnston
