When Anna Barley picked up her daughter Becky from Letort Elementary in Manor Township, Lancaster County last month, the last thing they expected to come home to was a giant fire, but that’s what happened. “When I got there, the entire barn was engulfed. The sides, the roof, everything. You couldn’t even get within feet of it,” said Anna. “It was the first time I’d ever heard my mom use the words oh my god,” said Becky.
More than 140 of the Barley's cattle perished inside the barn. One of those animals, a calf named Abel, belonged to Becky. She had raised it since birth, and was planning to show it during the upcoming fair season. "I feel sad, angry and frustrated that this happened," said Becky.
Those emotions were quickly replaced after a teacher at Letort Elementary, where Becky goes to school, decided to start a fundraiser to help buy her another calf. Every day, the students would come to school with rolls of coins and zip lock bags full of change. They put it all into a big plastic water jug. Within four days, they had more than $1,000. "It's amazing how people care about each other," said Becky.
With the money raised, Becky will buy a calf with stripes on it that she has appropriately named Tigger. "There was all these other ones I could have chosen, but that one was really unique and I like unique," said Becky.
There's a long road ahead for the Barley's. They still have to build an enclosure for Tigger and are working to rebuild the barn that was destroyed. Becky's mother says, despite the challenges that lie ahead, she's grateful, which became clear during her son's recent birthday. "We were celebrating a birthday when we could have been going to funerals and that's what really sticks with me. We were so blessed through this," said Anna.
TO HELP THE BARLEY'S REBUILD THEIR BARN CLICK HERE.