Community members turned out in droves this weekend to shop for a cause, supporting the rebuilding of Jackie’s Cake Shop in Franklinton.

A rummage sale was held Friday and Saturday in the building beside the former site of Jackie Smith’s cake shop, with owner James Tate allowing the use of his Greenlaw Avenue facility.

The benefit was spearheaded by Smith’s sister, Lorell Morris, and Donna Stier. Morris said the rummage sale was one idea to raise money to help Smith, who lost her business to a fire in February and had no insurance.

Smith said the community response following the fire has been wonderful.

“My friends have been great,” she said. “They just took over and took care of me.”

Morris said a crowd of about 30 people was waiting at the door when the sale began Friday morning. A variety of items were available, along with baked goods. She said each cake, pie or batch of cookies or brownies sold as soon as it arrived.

Those shopping Saturday included Smith’s longtime friends and customers.

“We’re family friends, and we love Jackie, and we want to help her and her family,” said LouAnn Thomas.

That sentiment was seconded by Elaine Westmoreland.

“I’ve known Jackie just about all her life, since we were 6 years old and went to school together,” she said.

Now they live on the same road, and Westmoreland said Smith and her husband, Bobby, are “good friends and neighbors.”

Westmoreland said the loss of the business Smith “put her life into” was a tragedy.

Smith, however, has wasted no time in getting her business of 32 years up and running again.

And customers have been anxious for Smith, who has weddings booked up through September, to reopen.

“My friends have called from all over because I had so many unique things that you can’t find anywhere else,” she said.

Soon she will be set up temporarily in the old Jack & Jill daycare center located behind First Baptist Church of Franklinton. She said that location will work for now.

“I appreciate being able to go somewhere that’s close,” she said.

Vendors of Smith’s from Tennessee, Richard and Pat Bailey, donated the store fixtures.

“They came down here and worked two days, setting it all up for her, which I thought was awesome,” Morris said.

Others have reached out to help, too. Bogalusan Marty Mizell donated a 4-year-old half Tennessee walker and half Morgan horse that will be sold as a way to raise funds. Call Bobby Smith at 515-4465 for more information about the horse.

Additionally, an account has been set up at Whitney Bank for Smith, who has the ultimate goal of rebuilding in the same spot.

A number of local merchants also donated raffle prizes, with the winners’ names to be drawn in May. The prizes are a Bayou Classic 10 quart aluminum fry pot and burner donated by Laycox; a lady’s watch donated by Moseley’s Franklinton Jewelers; a pearl necklace donated by Gayle’s Jewelers; a small block engine barbecue grill donated by R&D; a Stihl MS 170 chainsaw donated by ACE Hardware and Stihl Sales; and a queen size Turning Twenty quilt made and donated by Smith’s Tuesday Night Quilting Group.

Call Morris at 839-9163 or Stier at 839-5046 to purchase a ticket.