Benefit Sunday to help fire station rebuild

The Warren Cultural Center and Iowa Rock ‘N Roll Music Association are partnering to put on an event this Sunday, Sept. 29 that will benefit the Greenfield Fire Department.

The “Greenfield Strong: Still Rockin’ After the Storm” benefit concert is an event meant to embody the resilient spirit of the Greenfield and Adair County area after the EF4 tornado that destroyed parts of the community and greater area May 21.

East Iowa Street will be blocked for the event from the square, east to NW 3rd Street. Northeast 2nd Street will also be blocked in the one block north of Iowa Street.

“This event has gone from a single Facebook post to people in Congress calling me about it, KCCI putting it on the news, and I have a TV interview [this week] on WHO,” said Thaddeus Hawley, event organizer. “We have coverage statewide, almost. We’ve received donations from all over the place [for the auction]. It’s crazy, man.”

The concert will feature a dynamic lineup of local and regional artists, each delivering uplifting performances that echo the strength and solidarity of the Greenfield community, a recent press release on the event said.

In addition to the live music, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a special raffle and auction. Auction items range from an electric guitar signed by country music legend Vince Gill to fire suits and other items donated by race car driver Sammy Smith, a fire retardant quilt made by a 90-year-old woman, signed items from blues and folk musical artist William Elliot Whitmore, a 2020 Pheasants Forever print of the year painting, a hand-carved table from Twin Oaks Designs, and much more.

Hawley said that the auction items are a microcosm of what he initially envisioned this event being.

“I wanted to make a free will donation event where people could come enjoy it no matter what, for one,” Hawley said. “I also wanted it to be a way for people to come together. I hear about how back in the day they would have street parties, so this was my idea. It has all fallen together because of people’s sense of community and care.”

All proceeds from this event will go toward rebuilding the Greenfield fire station that was heavily in the tornado and recently demolished. The fire department is currently housed in a temporary location until a new station is rebuilt.

Musical artists peforming include Americana and roots artist Luke Fox at 12:30 p.m., Hillyard Sullivan at 1:10 p.m., songwriter Jason Reed at 1:50, Jason Walsmith of the band The Nadas at 2:30 p.m. and award-winning acoustic blues artist Hector Anchondo at 4:05 p.m. The raffles and auctions will be at 3:10 p.m. Hawley says all times on the schedule are approximate.

A variety of individuals, businesses and organizations have come together to make this event possible. A business from Omaha is providing sound equipment, Little Green Trailer will provide food, Greenfield Bowl will offer a beer garden, all of the acts are donating their time and Baier Auction Service are donating their time for the auction.

In addition, a few other items include:

• A few fire trucks will be at the event

• Project Recovery Iowa will be present offering mental health resources and information

• Greenfield Lions Club will serve lemonade and Philly Cheesteak sandwiches

• Hotel Greenfield will be open with air conditioning and drinks to be enjoyed in the hotel or on the patio

• The Warren Cultural Center’s tornado display by Wendi Lane and Dan Dickinson will be on display in the building’s lobby

The “Greenfield Strong: Still Rockin’ After the Storm” benefit concert is meant to represent a pivotal moment for the community, offering a chance to heal through music, support and collective action.

In the press release, organizers said the event is “a reminder that in the face of adveresity, the spirit of Greenfield remains unshakeable.”

“Everything we’re raising is going to the fire department,” Hawley said. “We would love to get some of the volunteers back who have helped our town so they can see what their work has done for us, and hopefully get some items and keepsakes to take home with them to help the fire department. There are a lot of different things.”