100+ Volunteers Rebuild Indiana School After June Tornado

When Principal Jaycob Knazur asked for volunteers to help restore his tornado-damaged school, he hoped maybe 30 people would show up. Instead, more than 100 students, staff, and community members arrived wearing neon green safety vests, ready to haul furniture up stairwells and into classrooms.

Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana took a direct hit from a June 11 tornado that left standing water throughout the building and caused devastating damage. The Catholic school had just six weeks to rebuild before students were scheduled to return on August 13.

Boys' basketball coach Jack Cundiff and his team had been in the building that afternoon for workouts but left before the storm hit. When he saw the damage the next day, he couldn't believe it was the same place where he worked and coached.

Sophomore Danielle Fleming was in Europe when her phone exploded with texts at 3 a.m. about the tornado. She didn't hesitate to volunteer when she returned, saying the tight-knit community needed all the help it could get.

Junior Vanessa Ruiz watched homes on her block suffer major damage from the storm. Seeing her school in ruins made her want to speed up the recovery so everyone could return to normal faster.

The Ripple Effect

Jim Donner graduated from Andrean in 1971 and hadn't been inside the building since a reunion in 2006. At his age, he considers it a blessing to still be physically able to help, so he made trip after trip carrying furniture alongside current students.

Tonn and Blank Construction deployed more than 100 workers in multiple shifts each day to meet the tight deadline. The school, Diocese of Gary, alumni donors, and philanthropic partners provided initial funding while insurance claims processed.

The community response extends beyond the volunteer day. Despite the tornado damage, Andrean is experiencing an enrollment surge with 130 incoming freshmen and nearly 500 total students expected. That's up from 470 students last year.

Students come from 37 zip codes across Northwest Indiana to attend the school, and the disaster hasn't dampened their commitment. The outpouring of support showed Knazur exactly what his community is made of when it matters most.