Tuesday was a big day for a Newtown animal sanctuary founded by the mother of one of the victims from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Community members came together for a traditional barn-raising at the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary.

"To see this barn go in, it's like... it's the beginning of a new chapter for the sanctuary, and I feel like it's so poignant because Catherine would've been 18 this year, and I feel like she would be off, she'd be going to school, she'd be spreading her wings, and this barn lets us spread ours," said Jenny Hubbard, Catherine's mom.

Volunteers drove in pegs before crews framed what will be the first building on the 34-acre property.

It'll allow the nonprofit to open up its educational programming to more people and carry on Catherine's commitment to caring for animals.

Jenny Hubbard said this barn raising helps what is an incredibly difficult time.

Saturday marks 12 years since the Sandy Hook tragedy.