# @iowapublicradio on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CEQK8xDjJMS
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/73152780-iowapublicradio-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/2c0d4d6da5.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-08-24T00:54:34.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Iowa Public Radio (@iowapublicradio) — https://gondola.cc/iowapublicradio

## Caption

When life hands you a derecho, you pick up the best fallen branch from your yard and hand-whittle a baseball bat. At least, that's what 12-year-old Tommy from Mount Vernon did.⁠⠀
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Pictures of Tommy's "The Great Derecho" wooden bat were posted on a Facebook group connecting Iowans to resources after last week's storm. After getting a wave of positive response, Tommy has decided to continue making bats, and plans to donate a portion of profits towards disaster relief in Cedar Rapids.⁠⠀
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The original bat was made for a friend's birthday, and Tommy spent ten hours making it by hand. Now that he has orders stacking up, he says he'll use a lathe to make more "Great Derecho" bats, and will enlist his grandpa's help in the production.⁠⠀
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Follow the link in our bio to order your own "The Great Derecho" bat to support The Greater Cedar Rapids Foundation Disaster Relief Fund. #GoodnewsIA⁠⠀

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 265
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- **Comments:** 3

## Tags

goodnewsia

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