NORTH COBB - On his way back from band practice Monday night, Kell High School band director David McGrath got a phone call from his wife, Kim, urging him to get home as fast as possible. The roof of their house had been struck by lightning and was on fire.

While his wife and two sons escaped the blaze unharmed, the second floor of the McGrath's home was destroyed and the rest of the house was heavily damaged by water used to put the fire out.

Immediately, band parents from Kell sprung into action.

Mark Bradberry, co-president of the Kell band boosters, and his daughter, a Kell graduate and former band student who baby-sits for the McGraths, headed over to the McGrath's northeast Cobb home to see how they could help their friend and beloved band director.

"Neighbors were out and there were already people offering a place for them to stay or to help out with their children or pets," Bradberry said.

What started out as a small group of people buying the family clothes and bringing them meals has snowballed into a community effort. Bradberry's co-president, Morissa Burwell, said the band boosters have been contacted by the other booster clubs in the Kell community, as well as other high school band programs in the district, including Wheeler and Harrison, asking how they can help. A booster parent at Harrison High School is contacting all of the other Cobb high school's band boosters to ask for their help in raising funds.

While the McGraths did have insurance, the Kell Band Boosters established a fund through Helping Hands Ministries to cover other family expenses and to allow people to donate online. They have also set up a meals website where families can sign up to provide food for the McGraths.

"Everybody's just been really wonderful about pulling together," Burwell said. "His influence is just very far reaching. I'm in awe of the number of phone calls I've gotten."

Both Bradberry and his son Cameron, a sophomore at Kell in the marching band and wind symphony, said the outpouring of help is a testament to the kind of person and band director David McGrath is.

"We all knew we needed to do something because he's a very big part of our lives," Cameron said. "He's an excellent guy. We have a lot of respect for him."

David McGrath, 45, said he and his wife have been overwhelmed at the community support.

"My wife and I are trying right now to comprehend the support of everybody," David McGrath said. "It's a great life lesson to my boys about what it is to be part of a caring community. It is very overwhelming; we plan to pay it forward."

The McGrath's two sons also attend Cobb Schools - Logan, 10, goes to Nicholson Elementary, and Nate, 12, attends McCleskey Middle School. Both of their sons' schools are involved in the efforts to support the family.

While he hasn't fully returned to work, McGrath stopped by practice on Tuesday, the day after the fire, to check in on his students. Cameron Bradberry said from what he observed, McGrath seemed to be in good spirits.

"He's seemed relaxed," he said. "So that shows that the situation seems to be getting under control. He just drops by every now and then and I can see him laughing and smiling with the staff. It's good to see him back out and to know that he's not totally devastated by it."

While David McGrath said his family is still reeling from the fire, he admits it would be much harder without the help of their friends.

"I just don't know how we would be dealing with this right now if we didn't have the folks that are stepping up and lending a hand," the band director said. "We're not going to dwell on the loss, we're going to be thankful for what we have."

To donate to the Helping Hands Ministry fund for the McGrath family make checks payable to Helping Hands Ministries and send them to 135 Main Street P.O. Box 337 Tallulah Falls, GA 30573. In the memo portion of the check, please indicate it is for the McGrath Family Relief Fund.

To donate online, visit: www.hhmin.org. Select "Donate Now," then "Donate to a Helping Hands Ministries Approved Project," then "Financial Hardship Projects" in the project category line, then "McGrath Family Relief Fund."""