Dozens gathered at Virginia Highlands Community College, and all for the same reason: the victims in Newtown, Conn.

“When I first start hearing about the details I just start to cry," said Kelsey Wilson who attended the candlelight vigil.

Mike Greer also came out to the vigil, “We came to support the community for the children they lost, they hadn't done anything wrong and it's sort of hard to believe."

Many people were grateful for the opportunity to pay their respects; including a teacher who spoke to the crowd about all that comes with leading a classroom, even being a bodyguard.

Kelsey Wilson hopes to become a teacher and says she already understands the responsibility, “I know if I would have been in this situation I’d have been a teacher who protected and saved a couple of lives.  I mean there would have been no doubt in my mind.”

Hearts go out to those who know the horror firsthand.

Officer Jack Thurston with the Virginia Highlands Campus Police said, "It's hard to imagine thinking about the first responders, what they saw. That's got to haunt them. That's something that is just going to be buried in their brains forever."

Another part of the ceremony was a toy donation. Stuffed animals will be sent out to local agencies that assist children in crisis. It's just one way to help people here heal.

Virginia Highlands will be accepting toy donations through Wednesday, in hopes to give children in need a little comfort.