Holts Summit rallies to support grieving families

Event raises money for families of three teens killed Aug. 1

Zeph McDaniel (left), Miriah McDaniel's brother, shows off a tattoo he had done in his sister's memory at a Saturday fundraiser for the families of the three teenagers who were killed in a car accident on August 1. David Fowler (center) and his son Austin Fowler got tattoos in memory of Meggan Fowler who was also killed in the accident. Matt McDaniel (not shown) went with Austin and Zeph to get tattoos from Eric "Papa Lik" Waldrop, whose niece went to school with Meggan, at The Ink Sling Studio in Jefferson City on Friday.
Zeph McDaniel (left), Miriah McDaniel's brother, shows off a tattoo he had done in his sister's memory at a Saturday fundraiser for the families of the three teenagers who were killed in a car accident on August 1. David Fowler (center) and his son Austin Fowler got tattoos in memory of Meggan Fowler who was also killed in the accident. Matt McDaniel (not shown) went with Austin and Zeph to get tattoos from Eric "Papa Lik" Waldrop, whose niece went to school with Meggan, at The Ink Sling Studio in Jefferson City on Friday.

HOLTS SUMMIT, Mo. -- The Holts Summit community gathered together Saturday for a fundraiser to support the families of three teenage girls who were killed in a car accident earlier this month.

Fundraiser coordinator Jill Barnhart had two weeks to plan the event to help relieve some of the financial stress from the families of Elizabeth Moses, 17, Miriah McDaniel, 17, and Meggan Fowler, 13.

The teenagers, all from Holts Summit, were on their way home from the county fair Aug. 1 in Jefferson City when they were involved in the head-on collision that ended their lives.

Saturday's event featured a silent auction, raffle, face painting, vendors and cook-out items, thanks to donations from individuals and multiple area business, including the Holts Summit Better Business Association, Family Pawn and Mosers. Mid-America Bank also donated $100 from its "jeans day" collection and Bath & Body Works in Jefferson City donated two baskets worth $275 for the raffle, Barnhart said.

"It's been overwhelming," she added. "I can't imagine what we'd have if I had a month to plan this."

In the days leading up to the fundraiser, Barnhart had received more than $1,000 in donations from the community. On Tuesday, a dinner was held at the HEART of Nashville restaurant in New Bloomfield where additional donations were raised for the families. The restaurant also donated 10 percent of its Tuesday-night sales to the fundraising pool.

Barnhart expected more than 600 people to attend the fundraiser and raise more than $2,000 from the event alone.

"It's awesome to know these businesses are donating because the families were so involved with the community," Barnhart said.

Members of the girls' families were also in attendance at the fundraiser. David Fowler, Meggan's father, expressed gratitude for the event, saying, "You can't put it into words. Our community is our family and it's amazing. Meggan would have been proud."

Several of the family members got tattoos in honor of Miriah and Meggan, who were cousins. David got a tattoo of a rose with Meggan's name above it several days ago, and his son, Austin, and Miriah's brothers, Zeph and Matt McDaniel, went Friday night to The Ink Sling Studio in Jefferson City to get tattoos in their sisters' memories.

More than 1,500 family and community members attended Meggan and Miriah's funeral service, Zeph said.

"I'm blown away. I didn't believe the number of people they touched," he added. "It gave me a whole new love for this community. It doesn't hurt as bad now because we have people here for us."