Community Unity and Kindness: How a Truck Accident Brought Downtown Clinton Together

In the heart of downtown Clinton, in the early hours of a Friday morning, a seemingly unfortunate incident occurred that ultimately led to a remarkable display of community unity. A truck driver accidentally collided with a building, shattering a storefront window, setting in motion a chain of events that showed the power of collective action and the indomitable spirit of a close-knit community.

The incident took place around 5:30 am, when the quiet of the town was disrupted by the jarring sound of a truck crashing into a building. The building at 113 North Broad, owned by Joseph and Laurie Dyches, suffered significant damage, and one of its tenants, Kendra Scurry of Gold Bottles Salon and Décor, had her business affected.

It was a little after 7:00 am when the news reached the building’s owners. They wasted no time and were on-site examining the damage by 7:15 am. Concerned about the impression the damaged building would leave on visitors and the community, Joseph expressed, “This building is one of the first things a visitor sees when they come into town, and right now we don’t have a firm date for when the glass will be repaired, and plywood on windows just doesn’t give the right message.”

Their determination to address the situation in a way that truly reflected the community spirit was truly commendable. But wait, that’s just the beginning. What happened next exemplified the essence of what makes a community thrive – people coming together for the greater good.

The building owners reached out to Jamie Miller of On-Site Builders, and even though he was out of town and his team had the day off, Jamie wasted no time in rallying his team and making arrangements to secure the building. They were on-site with men and materials within a couple of hours and had the front boarded up before lunchtime.

While securing the building was a significant step towards normalcy, Kendra Scurry, the business owner affected by the incident, had an event scheduled for Saturday. The Dyches didn’t want the plain, boarded-up window to take away from Scurry’s event or to diminish the vibrancy and pride in their historic downtown. So, they decided to take an extra step and called Andrea Curtis, to ask about painting the plywood to make it look decent. Curtis is the owner and operator of The Makery a DIY arts & craft studio just around the corner from where the incident occurred.

Up for the challenge, Curtis reached out to another artistic soul, Susan Tallman for inspiration. With incredible community spirit, Curtis and Tallman immediately got to work, ensuring the building’s appearance was not tarnished by the temporary fix.

Andrea Curtis, one of the local artists involved in the restoration project, shared her perspective, saying, “In times of adversity, our community’s kindness and collective effort shine the brightest.”

By Saturday morning, the painted plywood gave the town a fresh, uplifting look, a symbol of the community’s resilience and togetherness.

Susan Tallman, the other local artist involved, put it simply: “Our community showed that when we come together, we can turn challenges into symbols of strength and resilience.”

The finished painting is as simple as it is powerful. A bright ray of sunshine with the words, “Kindness Matters.”

Speaking of kindness, Crave Clinton had a great view of the work being done to restore the storefront and owner Lori Wilkes thought they could use an energy tea. The refreshing drinks were just another example of the community coming together.

This incident reminds us of the importance of community and local support. Clinton boasts of immense local talent, including skilled contractors and artists, who proved that they can provide a level of service and care that is unmatched. It is a testament to the fact that community pride goes hand in hand with community kindness.

The accident in downtown Clinton was an unfortunate event, but it brought to light the immense value of unity in a community. The town showed that in times of adversity, the people of Clinton can, and do, come together, work together, and create something beautiful out of a seemingly negative situation.

The incident serves as a reminder that kindness, pride, ownership, and volunteerism are values that truly matter and make a difference in any community. All of this shined through in Clinton in the actions and reactions of community members to an unfortunate accident.

Yes, kindness matters.