Utahns Help Those Impacted By Nashville Christmas Day Bombing

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — One South Jordan community has come together to bring hope to the victims of the Nashville Christmas bombing.

“Like that box right there, it’s got all gifts that are wrapped,” said Channing Kasallis.

It looks like Santa’s workshop inside Channing’s home.

“You can open those with your kids,” she said.

The gifts are being sent to Nashville where Channing’s sister Noelle Rodriguez Rasmussen lives.

“This was the first Christmas, ironically, that we’ve ever spent home in our house,” said Rasmussen. “We always travel out to Utah.”

But everything changed that morning when, just feet from their front door, an RV sat packed with explosives.

Luckily, the Rasmussen family left moments before the bomb detonated.

“I saw a huge explosion, a giant fireball in the sky,” said Noelle.

The family was left with nothing, and their home was condemned.

“I wanted to do whatever we could,” said Kasallis. 

Within hours, gifts and donations started pouring into Channing’s living room.

“We literally had Santas showing up on our porch all day long to give gifts,” she said.

“When I know that stores were closed, people on Christmas were coming over with brand new gifts, which I was very aware probably came from their own Christmas trees,” said Noelle. 

But it’s not about the gifts, rather the hope that comes with them.

“We saw Christmas in action in the most beautiful way that was born of a really horrific tragedy,” said Channing.

Fortunately, a family friend who just happened to be passing through town, volunteered to take the gifts to Nashville.

A GoFundMe account has also been established to help the Rasmussen family.

*KSL-TV does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.