On April 17th, 2026, multiple tornadoes touched down in the Rochester, Minnesota, area, severely damaging dozens of homes. My husband's grandpa, Scott VanTries's house, was one of the homes destroyed by a tornado that hit SE Rochester. In the early afternoon of Friday, 4/17, the tornado crossed Marion Road and Walnut Street and left a literal path of destruction—a straight line of de-roofed homes, uprooted pine trees that snapped like twigs, and a trail of twisted metal, broken glass, and heaps of insulation.

Within minutes, the house Scott built with his own hands 30 years ago was destroyed. The roof was ripped away, leaving the entire first level exposed to the elements and scattering his belongings over a mile. Scott was home alone when the tornado hit and was able to shelter in the basement just minutes before disaster struck. Thankfully, he is safe and was not injured, but he's lost his home and must begin the overwhelming journey of starting over again. We are incredibly grateful for the community's support, which helped clear fallen trees, shovel debris, gather belongings, and provide hot meals. But he still has a long road ahead of him.

It's devastating to have your home destroyed by a tornado, but this past year has been exceptionally difficult for Scott and his family. Last summer, his garage burned down. His father passed away on September 4th, and just a week later, his loving wife of over 40 years, Cheryl, passed away on September 11th. In January 2026, he had double-bypass heart surgery. And now, he's lost his home to an EF2 tornado.

Scott is the kind of man who never asks for help but is always the first to offer. This is why we feel compelled to ask for donations on his behalf, to help him and his son, Chris, get back on their feet. Whether you know Scott personally or not, any support you can offer will make a meaningful difference as he and Chris begin rebuilding their lives. The road ahead will be long, but it's inspiring to see how the community has come together to support them during this difficult time.

Any donation, no matter the amount, will go directly toward meeting their immediate needs, like clothing, food, and temporary housing, as well as supporting the long-term rebuilding process to help them fully recover from this heartbreaking loss.

If you're unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would help raise awareness and aid Scott and his family during this challenging time.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support. ❤️