The people of Greensburg are hosting what's billed as a good old-fashioned barn raising, but it's not your typical barn and the people helping aren't exactly neighbors.

More than 30 New York City Firefighters flew into Wichita Thursday morning. They will spend the weekend giving back to Greensburg.

The guys and girls make a trip like this every year as part of the "New York Says Thank You Foundation." On the anniversary weekend of September 11th they will go to the site of a natural disaster to help rebuild. After the outpouring of support the country gave New York after the terrorist attacks, it's their way of saying thank you.

"When people from small towns across the country and people from Wichita and Greensburg and Hays and Liberal went out of their way to help us, we spend the anniversary every year as a way to pay it forward and help another community rebuild," said the foundation's founder Jeff Parness.

After they heard about the Greensburg tornado they knew the town would be their next stop.

The devastation surprised even firefighter Jemal Barithwaite, who survived the World Trade Center attacks.

"What struck me most was there was nothing around. Everything was destroyed," said Barithwaite.

Over the next two days they'll be part of a group of more than 300 volunteers who will build a brand new 4-H county fairground pavilion in Greensburg. It will be a place where the whole community can come together.

"We're like cool we're going to have the country's largest barn raising," said Parness, the foundation's founder.

It's one devastated community helping another move forward. After the busy weekend the firefighters will head back to New York on Sunday.