Pastor Larry Mack of Toledo is a man of great faith. But like millions of Americans, he watched in disbelief on Friday as the death toll climbed in an unimaginable scene. Twenty children dead and six adults killed at the hands of a determined shooter. As a father himself, the thought of his own children crossed his mind.
"I just hold them a little bit closer, I show them appreciation more and I look them in their eyes and tell them how much I really truly love them every time now when we come together," says Mack.
He had already planned to a trip to New York this week, but left a day early to visit Newtown. He describes the mood as somber near Sandy Hook Elementary School, yet united. Memorials litter the road. Even strangers come together to hold hands and pray.
"The atmosphere is a little bit different, you can just tell that it seems the like the whole world is just coming together," says Mack. "I felt the prayers of the nation in that city."
The pastor is only staying until Tuesday afternoon, but plans to help however he can. Right now, it's unclear what Newtown truly needs besides peace and comfort. But as they figure it out, he says he and his congregation are ready to pitch in. They're ready to start by praying
"That's the biggest thing you can do, is just pray, at this point."
A fund for victim's families has been established. You can get more information by visiting http://newtownmemorialfund.org/ .
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