LAKE CITY, Fla. – While the wife and several children of a man killed in a wrong-way crash on New Year's Day recover from their injuries, members of their church and other Lake City residents fix up the family's home.
Levi Town, 33, died when his SUV was struck head-on by a car on U.S. 90 near Olustee Battlefield in Baker County. The 17-year-old driver and a passenger the car were also killed. Town's wife and five children were seriously injured in the crash, but are getting better.
One of the children has been released and one remains at Wolfson Children's Hospital in Jacksonville. Three other children and the mother are being treated at UF Health in Gainesville, where News4Jax was told they were all moved into the same hospital room so they could be together.
"They are steadily improving, which I am very thankful for," Gabriel Curry, president of HUB Industrial, who was Levi Town's employer.
By the time the entire family is released, they'll have a beautiful home to go back to due to the efforts of people who care about them.
"It is pretty touching, the overwhelming response from people that want to make a difference," said Curry.
Town was working on some home renovations when he was killed. After the tragic crash, his co-workers and church family decided they would finish what he started.
"We also are getting them new furniture," Curry said. "We are getting them new beds; we are making the beds. We're going through the kitchen; totally painting the house. It's incredible, overwhelming support."
They're also fixing up the backyard, re-building the children's playhouse and replacing the roof.
LISTEN: 911 calls reporting head-on crash
IMAGES: Tragic New Year's Day crash
Tragedy can bring out the best in people. It certainly did in this case. About 150 volunteers showed up Sunday. On Monday a number of contractors went to work on the house free of charge.
"I think it is the right thing to do," said Greg Walker of CA Boone Construction. "And I would think that they would do the same for us, if it came down to it."
Many volunteers knew Levi Town or members of the family well, while others had never met him. But they're working side-by-side to bring this family some relief after losing their rock.
The family has a long road ahead of them, and it won't be easy But community members say they'll love and support this family every step of the way.
"It's not going to replace Levi, but it is going to make the family's lives more comfortable," Curry said.
Organizers say they'll have the house ready for the Town family to move back into within a week. There's also an online fundraiser for the family that has raised $114,000.